improvements are in the process of taking place and many more are planned. From my perspective, the improvements began with the Commons. When I first visited RPI, it was a muddy field in terrible shape. When I returned for orientation, its transformation into the beautiful space we have now was almost complete. Improvements like this are key to improving our quality of life and presenting improvements that can happen in the short time we are here.
Not many people will admit that they came to RPI because it has a scenic campus, but I have to say that the appearance and collegiate feel of our campus was among my top two or three reasons for choosing RPI over other competitive institutions. In fact, it was toward the end of April my senior year that I sat in a room with a mentor of mine and determined that the clinching factor for choosing RPI was how beautiful the campus was.
The improvements so far are modest—new landscaping for BARH in preparation for East Campus Athletic Village construction, a fountain in the Commons dedicated to a long-time RPI staffer, and other landscaping and improvements too numerous to name. In the spring, students have even gotten involved in the process and volunteered their time to do plantings and other landscaping chores.
One of the largest issues RPI has had to address on student quality of life during my short time here has been problems of congestion and safety on campus roads and walkways. Since RPI has no central receiving facility, all deliveries to departments take place directly. For instance, if someone in the H&SS department should order a red Swingline stapler from Staples, the next day, a large Staples truck will come through the south campus gate and drive on walkways meant only for pedestrians and small vehicles—endangering students, destroying the landscaping, and adding to a massive congestion problem on inner campus.
This year, the Administrative Division has been involved in getting a committee to look at campus roads and walkways up and running. This sort of initiative is of primary importance to students as it can bring about improvements on campus roads ravaged by heavy construction and delivery vehicles as well as improving the appearance of campus through comprehensive walkway and related landscaping revisions.
Improvements like a central receiving system are most likely many years away. Recent construction projects like the Biotechnology Center, ECAV, and EMPAC, while they may give value to our degrees in the long-term, are of incredibly limited use to those of us residing here now. Therefore, while we should give our support to all of those long-term projects, we should also be considering the smaller things that can make campus a better place.
But there’s something more potent than high energy bills that motivate what happens at RPI—student opinion. I’m not sure how long it took for the people who make landscaping decisions to hear from BARH residents that their dormitory looked like a haunted house—but now they know and it is being addressed. If you have a suggestion for an improvement or want to see something that’s on the agenda expedited—let your elected representative know or write a letter to the editor.
