News

President of the Union Ava Gallagher ’23G has announced that the Union Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024 was approved by the Institute. RPI’s Dance Team received a subsidy to attend the National Dance Alliance competition in Daytona Beach, Florida.

RPI Rugby gains funding for upcoming Beast of the East tournament, while Dance Team’s additional subsidy for National competition gets tabled for next meeting. The board discusses marketing and solidifying one shade of red for the Union.

Rensselaer has begun testing a new chatbot named Puckman, an initiative being led by the Department of Undergraduate Education. The chatbot sent out text messages to most of the freshmen cohort on March 30. An email from Keith Moo-Young, Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education, explained that the goal of the initiative is to boost student success.

Resident assistants voted overwhelmingly 55-9 to approve the RA Union. The election, administered by the National Labor Relations Board, took place last Tuesday and Wednesday in the Union. Rensselaer will now be required by law to bargain collectively with the union in relation to RA compensation, benefits, and working conditions.

President Martin A. Schmidt ’81 gave an update on what future finances will look like, as well as a few institution changes that many faculty appreciated. Some changes include no charge on paid time off when the school is closed for holiday break and adding Juneteenth to the faculty holiday calendar.

Former President of the Union Colleen Corrigan ’23G held her final E-Board meeting as President last week. She will be succeeded by Ava Gallagher ’23G.

Ben Viner ’24 has been elected Grand Marshal and Ava Gallagher ’23G has been elected President of the Union. Ria Massoni '24 was reelected as Undergraduate President.

UPAC Grand Marshal Week is allowed to use the McNeil room for Grand Marshal Week, the Rensselyrics received a funding reallocation for microphones, the Cognitive Science Graduate Students Association becomes Union-affiliated, and the badminton club gained funding for tournaments while RPI TV was rejected for funding for a news show.

The Senate approved changes to the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy along with changes to the Judicial Process. Both sets of changes were aimed at providing more clarity to students about when certain policies apply.

President Martin A. Schmidt ’81, Vice President of Student Life Peter Konwerski, and Dean of Students Travis Apgar attended the 24th Senate meeting to address the formation of the RPI RA Union.

Pickleball becomes affiliated with the Union while the Young Democratic Socialists of America Club fails affiliation for the second time. The Humans Vs. Zombies club gets approved reallocation of funds.

Starting over Spring Break, students will receive emails through Exchange Online instead of webmail.

The Student Senate amended the Union Constitution to have an Multicultural Fraternity and Sorority Council senator, another independent senator, and another graduate senator. Furthermore, Director of the Union Charlie Potts spoke about Rensselaer Union safety, and Giuseppe Molfino was appointed MFSC liaison.

Vice President for Student Life Peter Konwerski sent out a new RA compensation plan in light of the RPI RA Union's letter. The union wrote a press release back.

The Elections Commission received $1,000 to change their voting website so that Juniors on Arch Away can vote during Grand Marshal week. Dr. Charlie Potts received 45,000 dollars of funding for a new low ropes course near ECAV. The Executive Board discussed possible Union hour changes for the Show Techs.

The Rensselaer Music Association was approved for funds towards new recording equipment and The Polytechnic was given funds to attend the College Media Association convention.

Shankar Veludandi ’24 and Hannah Tischler ’24 were removed from their positions as Greek senators. After reapproving the Handbook because of amendments to the amount of required nominations for Graduate Senators and Representatives, the Senate discussed a motion from the RA Union.

The Senate approved the GM Week Elections Handbook, appointed Aaryan Bhatt ’25 as E-Board Club and Organization Representative and Raven Levitt ’26 as Member-At-Large Representative, and impeached two senators.

A letter with approval from over 75% of RAs was given to an assistant of President Martin A. Schmidt ’81 for Schmidt to recognize an RA union.

RPI Playhouse and E-Complex were flooded over the weekend

RPI Club Softball gained Union recognition, RPI Ballroom received subsidies for extra private lessons, RPI Playhouse reallocated funds for lighting equipment, several clubs were “sunset”, and Raven Levitt ’26 was confirmed as the Business Operations Chair.

The Student Senate had an atypically short meeting last Wednesday as they failed to reach quorum. Four more Senate members were necessary to meet the required 12 members for approval of most Senate actions besides secondary motions.

Grand Marshal Cait Bennett ‘23G introduced potential upcoming changes to the Rensselaer Union Constitution. Moreover, four positions were appointed.

UPAC Cinema gained funding for movies and a film festival prize program. Jake Herman, Ava Gallagher, and Tomas Gonzales-Zugasti were appointed to new positions on the Executive Board.