Far too often, we forget that RPI is part of a larger community. It is part of an area steeped in history and reminiscent of an era that truly shaped the course of prosperity for the United States. But it also has an eye for the world of tomorrow: we’re part of an area dubbed the “Tech Valley,” and, to put it simply by novelist William Gibson, “The future is here. It’s just not widely distributed yet.” We first arrived here as RPI students, but as we are nearing the close of this school year it should be evident that we are much more. We should strive to fulfill the commitment of being members of a community that works together to bring that future beyond the doorstep of our campus and out to the world.
I suppose such a goal starts with building the relationships with the people around us. It is about being an active individual in the greater Troy, a city that is undergoing a historical rebirth. Ignore the false stigma that you may have; make the trip downtown. Visit the parks, shops, and sites that make Troy a historical treasure. Eat at the numerous restaurants, cafés, and bakeries that are some of the best in the area. Volunteer in schools, libraries, and community service organizations to better the lives of Troy citizens. Attend City Council meetings; be a part of the city in which we live. It’s all about building bonds that benefit all of us. Citizens of Troy notice and are pleased when we make the effort downtown, and it helps create a positive relationship with the community that we can take away as building both the success of our city and our school.
This Friday will be Troy Night Out, an exciting monthly event that gives a taste of the expansive cultural atmosphere of the city. I encourage all students and members of the RPI community to venture down and experience all that TNO offers. RPI has been a generous sponsor, and through collaboration with your Senate’s Student Life Committee, there are free shuttles that leave from the Rensselaer Union on the hour, from 5–9 pm, and return from Monument Square downtown on the quarter of the hour. While in Monument Square, check out the RPI student exhibit at the Arts Center of the Capital Region. You’ll also find many RPI students—me included— along with many members of the Senate venturing through the shops, restaurants, and streets of Troy. For more information on Troy Night Out, visit its website at http://www.troynightout.org/
In these first few weeks of my tenure as the 143rd Grand Marshal, I’ve talked about student input, communication, and community relations; ideas that I truly feel strongly about. But my major endeavor is to find the ideas and input that all the students and members of the RPI community have. So please, make a shout out, stop by the Grand Marshal and President of the Union office in the Student Government Suite, or e-mail me at gm@rpi.edu.
