The Renaissance at Rensselaer redefined the Rensselaer experience for generations to come. From the outset of The Rensselaer Plan, it was clear that this ambitious plan for pre-eminence within the 21st Century was necessary, and if not completed, we would have missed the 21st Century.
Likewise, as a Union, we stand at a junction within our history. With the changes surrounding us, it is no longer acceptable to be good at Rensselaer. We must not only strive for, but achieve excellence. This is no easy task, which if successful, will require re-evaluation and change that at times will come with adversity and resistance. The key has been to take a hard look inward, to our core strengths and competencies, building on those while developing new core competencies that are necessary and fundamental to achieving excellence in the 21st Century. The Rensselaer of today is about preparing for the Rensselaer of tomorrow, paving the paths of those who are to come, while making every effort to improve the education and experience of those that are here.
Rensselaer is a historical institution, having been the first technical institution founded in the Western Hemisphere. The Renaissance at Rensselaer is about claiming our rightful place among the top tier institutions of this world. Likewise, as a Union, we are built on over a hundred years of tradition, standing as one of the only student-directed unions in the country. It is time we claim our rightful place, as students, to put forth a plan for organizational excellence for the Rensselaer Union. One that will build on our core competencies and actively seek out the areas in which we will need to build on to continue to act as the center for academic, cultural, and social experiences for generations to come.
As history has shown, it is not common for student-directed unions to look long term, evident in the lack of student-directed unions remaining in the country. This is with but one true exception, the Rensselaer Union. It was students who called for a new Union in 1956, and it was students who called for the renovation of 1998; as such it will be the students of today that will call for the necessary changes and upgrades to make the Rensselaer Union, the premier medium through which our diverse student body’s opinions and needs are expressed and met.
