Typical RPI complaint: Troy is dingy. It’s full of weird people, it looks dilapidated, and everything about it screams “has-been.” Typical Troy complaint: RPI students are rich snobs that don’t contribute to the Troy community. These grievances are both exaggerations, but I tend to agree a little more with the Troy residents’ accusation, just because I know how uninformed, if not hypocritical, the students’ complaints often are. If you think Troy is just that lame city chilling outside of the world that is the RPI campus, reconsider a bit.
First off, Troy has lots of nice places to eat or shop or hang out. There are many interesting local businesses that are great to explore, like the record store on River Street that sells really cheap vinyl. (Seriously, there’s great stuff there.) There’s also a good variety of restaurants, many of which you can see reviewed in The Poly’s Features section every week. My personal favorite is Flavour Café on Fourth Street, mostly because I’ve been there many times and I know how good the food is. Chances are you’re familiar with Brown’s Brewery or the Farmer’s Market or Revolution Hall; if so, you should know there’s good stuff in Troy.
As to the overall appearance of the place, I’ll admit I like some aspects of the aging. The awkward cramming of mismatched buildings with vines all over them excites me to no end. Most people probably don’t agree with me, though. They would focus more on the houses falling apart all over the place and the general funk of certain areas, including the ones they live in. For the collapsing places, I have little to say; they’re a tragedy that won’t be fixed in this economy. As to that repulsive je ne sais quoi, I have a suggestion: Try fixing it yourself.
I was out this weekend picking up trash, and the one thing I noticed the most was cigarette butts. Along with these I found wrappers, silverware, a scarf, a guitar case, and tons of paper products. Some 3-by-3-foot pieces of ground took 5–10 minutes to clean up, just because of the huge amount of garbage sitting in the grass or ground into the dirt.
Guess where I was picking up trash. No, it wasn’t some neighborhood smack-dab in the middle of the city; it was around 15th Street and Peoples Avenue, in areas just about, if not entirely, populated with RPI students. Maybe it’s worth considering that the dinginess of Troy is what you see most because the areas you live in are covered in your own garbage. Maybe what you’re complaining about is actually your own laziness strewn all over the ground. Next time, don’t call the place a trash-heap unless your trash is in a proper disposal place.
In this respect, at least, I would agree with Troy residents that many students have no respect for the city. What I would say is unfounded, however, is the idea that we don’t contribute. Aside from the economic benefits of having students living off-campus, many student organizations put in time and money to benefit the Troy community. The Student Senate recently had an event to clean up Prospect Park. Numerous clubs have gone downtown to serve the homeless at Joseph’s House and Shelter. The Rensselaer Pride Alliance’s annual drag show is a charity event that raises money for the Damien Center of Troy, an HIV/AIDS care and prevention center. And obviously, despite the complaints, many students do respect and spend their money in Troy. If these things don’t count as contribution, I don’t know what does. At this point, what’s lacking is just a little mutual appreciation. So get out there and enjoy this city; it’s cool.
