David Liu

AI should always come with a killswitch, but Managing Editor David Liu ’22 argues that it’s a lot more complicated than we think.

Vice President of Student Life Peter Konwerski presented a draft of the Student Life Performance Plan, outlining goals to improve student retention, make investments in housing, and “enhance the Arch.”

The Student Senate conducted a Q&A session with President Schmidt, asking questions that ranged from mental health, Greek life, and Schmidt’s day-to-day.

President Martin Schmidt ’81 held his first Town Hall where he discussed shuttles, the Arch, and his three-step plan for the future.

Would you eat chicken grown in a vat? Managing Editor David Liu ’22 thinks it’s an obvious yes.

The Student Senate unanimously voted to remove Class of 2024 Senator Michael Mendez from his position. The motion to remove Class of 2024 senator Gabriel Tambellini was delayed until October 26.

The Student Senate unanimously appointed Christopher D. Carothers to Tenure and Promotion Committee representative after they tabled the motion last week.

We are far from a world where AI-generated content rivals what humans create, but recent leaps in AI and machine learning have convinced Managing Editor David Liu ’22 that this future is inevitable.

The Student Senate delayed a motion to appoint Professor Chris Carothers to Faculty Senate Tenure and Promotion Committee Representative as they did not have enough information about the candidate.

Freshmen Election ballots are now ordered from most nominations to least, drawing criticism from senators who believe the new system is unequal.

Executive Board members resisted against limiting Student Union hours, arguing that the Union should be a safe haven for late night students.

The Philippine American League, Korean Student Association, and Alianza Latina were approved funding for cultural events. The Rensselaer Music Association was approved for a due waiver.

The Executive Board approved a total of $90,500 to demolish the W2SZ trailer on Sunset Terrace and build two offices in the Mueller Center. Additional subsidy requests by TeamRPI eSports and the Union Show Techs were also approved.

The Union Executive Board confirmed nine members to join the Board, including a new “Counselor to the President” position.

Associate News Editor David Liu ’23 gives unsolicited advice on motivating yourself during assignment slumps.

The Rensselaer Union is planning to introduce two new offices in the Mueller Center, demolish the W2SZ trailer near ECAV, and renovate the Student Government Suite in the Union.

The Union Executive Board designated Girls Who Code and the Cryptocurrency & Bitcoin Technology Club as Union-recognized clubs. A motion to purchase two AEDs also passed unanimously.

The Executive Board approved a motion to designate the Multicultural Sorority and Fraternity Council and their sub-organizations as Union-affiliated clubs.

On Tuesday, the two candidates for Grand Marshal, Cait Bennett '22 and Nicole Gramenides '23, participated in a debate held by the Elections Commission. Positions for Undergraduate President and President of the Union were uncontested, so both candidates participated in a 30 minute Q&A session. Elections Commission Chairperson Nicholas Longchamp '24 and The Polytechnic News Editor William Hawkins '23 moderated the debate.

For the first time since 2018, the Rensselaer Union will hold an in-person GM Week debate Tuesday in the McNeil room of the Rensselaer Union from 6 to 8 pm.

On Thursday, the Executive Board passed a motion to revoke office use for organizations in the Student Government Suite.

On Thursday, the Executive Board unanimously passed motions to recognize the Bangladesh Student Association and allocate the Rensselaer Student Auto Shop $2000 in additional subsidies for repair tools.

On Thursday, the Union Executive Board passed subsidy reallocations for the Union Show Techs and the Student Senate. A motion to merge the UPAC lights reserve and the UPAC sound reserve was also approved.

The Executive Board meeting last Thursday was canceled due to a lack of proposals.

The Union Executive Board approved three additional subsidy requests for RPI Flying Club, The Polytechnic, and the Business Operations Committee. The Board also approved a subsidy reallocation request for the Student Senate.

The Union Executive Board moved to recognize Disabled Students at RPI Dream and RPI Breakdance Club as Union-recognized clubs. RPI BASIC was also approved as a Union-affiliated club.

The Union Executive Board confirmed Oleksiy Golub ’23 as the new Vice President for Club Relations. The position was previously held by Joe Mampillil ’22.

In their first meeting of 2022, the Union Executive Board unanimously approved a stopgap budget for RPI Men’s and Women’s Ultimate Frisbee, totaling $2,503. The club recently returned from a two-year suspension due to violating Rensselaer’s alcohol policy.

The Rensselaer Union Executive Board requested additional subsidies to upgrade their Slack platform, but the motion was postponed indefinitely. The Undergraduate Council proposed a bylaw amendment to their budget policy, which failed 2-15-0.

On Thursday, the Union Executive Board approved the Positive Psychology Club as a Union-recognized club, effective immediately. The Caribbean Student Association will become Union-recognized upon approval of a starter constitution by the Club Operations Committee.

The Union Executive Board unanimously approved RPI Chess Club as a Union-funded club. The approval happened over a year after the group initially gained Union recognition.

This week, the Executive Board approved a reallocation of funds for the Rensselaer Music Association to purchase new instrument covers, approved Club Volleyball’s outdoor games, and elected Faizah Rabbye ’23 secretary of the Board for the Fall semester.

The Union Executive Board unanimously approved the appointment of Minh Nguyen ’22 as Marketing and Strategy Committee Chair. The position focuses on branding, marketing, and promoting events for the Rensselaer Union.

On Thursday, the Union Executive Board passed RPI Red Army’s proposal for a new podcast, but motioned to postpone a budget reallocation that would cover the cost of a new microphone for the program.

The Union Executive Board unanimously voted to designate the Lavender Alliance as inactive due to budgetary issues and low membership on September 23.