Opinion

Bill Ni ’23 calls for a change of perspective towards New Year resolutions. Instead of starting your year with a resolution, he calls for setting the deadline of your resolution as the end of the year.

This sports season, Rensselaer has played in a desolate Houston Field House due to the current COVID-19 spectator policy. With the ECAC playoffs approaching, home-ice advantage is insignificant in a barren rink. Many other schools have updated their policies to allow outside spectators and it's time for RPI to do the same, writes sports editor Andrew Days '23.

News editor William Hawkins '23 argues that pandemic restrictions are no longer justified and makes the case that we should not have to miss out on our lives for the sake of avoiding COVID-19.

An astute worker is cautious of diminishing returns at the workplace, putting more energy and time into something just to get less and less out. However, diminishing returns are unavoidable, and many can relate to that third hour of working on a project seeming less productive than the first two. The Senate is, likewise, powerless in the face of time and subject to ensuing exhaustion.

Black Students Alliance President Tiffany Filawo ‘23 reflects on the past semester’s activities including Black Solidarity Day, a joint general body meeting with ASA, the first Black Owned Success Series Event, and a De-Stress GBM. She then looks forward to all of the events that BSA have planned for the current semester.

Grand Marshal Cait Bennett '22 discusses tips she has learned for keeping up with the workload at RPI. She discusses ways to plan your semester and how to hold yourself accountable to your plan.

Staff writer Namish Gali '22 writes about NASCAR racer Kyle Larson's controversial past and efforts towards redemption in the public eye.

Rensselaer’s Black Student Alliance had a busy October, from organizing general body meetings, to creating a new event called the Bust It Down Battle. This month so far, BSA celebrated Black Solidarity Day and held a Black-Owned Success Series event.

The last few New England Patriots seasons have been tough to watch for their fans, especially since they got used to the 20-year dynasty with quarterback Tom Brady at the helm. Contributing Editor and Patriots fan Shardul Joshi ’23 recounts the last few seasons for the team and discusses what this season’s performance indicates for the future.

Imagine a circuit designer wants to verify the accuracy of a specific computation before it goes into production. Then, suppose a college is trying to find the best way to schedule all their exams. On the surface, the problems seem pretty different, but the two are both instances of the same problem: SAT, or Boolean satisfiability. Copy Editor Dylan Sheils ’24 explores the algorithmic development of SAT solvers.

President of the Union Yaseen Mahmoud ’22 discusses the waning self-governance of the Union, emphasizing the erosion of student rights by Rensselaer administrators and higher-ups.

To fill the emptiness of having no kitchen as an on-campus student, Copy Coordinator Dylan Le '24 spend hours browsing online for cookware, dishware, glassware, and other food-related implements. His interest is not in gadgets such as strawberry hullers, spiralizers, and air-fryers, but in more classic tools.

Grand Marshal Cait Bennett ’22 reviews the positions for freshman elections and the importance of each.

Grand Marshal Cait Bennett ’22 discusses the need for creative classroom solutions to accommodate and encourage neurodiversity on campus.

Grand Marshal Cait Bennett ’22 discusses the three phases of the presidential selection process and how students can get involved.

Business Manager John Stotz ’22 reflects on his inactivity in The Poly and explores his inability to finish an article.

Brandy Opondo ’23 shares the story of her struggle coping with mental illness at a college that vilifies and punishes seeking treatment.

Copy Editor Dylan Sheils '24 discusses best practices for tech companies considering a switch to closed platform development.

The following are a mix of questions asked by first-year students who participated in The Polytechnic’s Navigating Rensselaer & Beyond event and some we as a staff think every student should know. Student questions were answered in real time and later abridged into this article.

Rensselaer’s Black Students Alliance is excited to kick off a year of fun activities for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak. It prides itself in being a cultural outlet for RPI’s Black community and its allies. We strive to showcase the Black experience and offer an immersive experience for those looking to learn and be a part of that experience. Jeda Coward ’24, Makenna Noel ’24, and BSA President Tiffany Filawo ’23 write about the importance of the BSA, how it persisted through virtual meetings, and its upcoming events.

President of the Union Yaseen Mahmoud ’22 discusses the updated Union operating guidelines.

Theo Severud '23 recalls the tragedy of the September 11 attacks, and its impact on Arab Americans.

Grand Marshal Cait Bennett ’22 and President of the Union Yaseen Mahmoud ‘22 congratulates the Class of 2021, and commends them for their incredible perseverance despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Newly elected Grand Marshal Cait Bennett ’22 and President of the Union Yaseen Mahmoud ’22 encourage the student body to finish the semester strong, continue supporting each other, and look forward to the year ahead.