Nilay Kapadia

Web Technologies Group chairperson Gabriel Jacoby-Cooper ’24 has announced that Shuttle Tracker 2.0, a complete revamp of the service, will begin to hand out tracking devices to shuttles.

The Executive Board approved the allocation of $27,268 to purchase new furniture for the Student Government Suite, two-thirds of which came from a donation by Jon Kessler ’79. The Board also approved a motion to fund four parking passes for members of RPI Ambulance.

The Executive Board voted to alter the hours of operation for the Rensselaer Union, Mueller Center, and ’87 Gym. They also approved the appointment of Michelle Martinez ’26 as the new Multicultural Leadership Council chairperson.

President Martin A. Schmidt ’81 announced that Rensselaer has settled a class action lawsuit related to tuition payments during the pandemic for $6.5 million.

The Executive Board held its final business meeting of the year last Thursday. In contrast to the prior two meetings, the E-Board did not have issues reaching quorum as the Senate appointed 17 new voting members to the E-Board the night before.

President of the Union Ava Gallagher ’23G has announced that the Union Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024 was approved by the Institute. RPI’s Dance Team received a subsidy to attend the National Dance Alliance competition in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Rensselaer has begun testing a new chatbot named Puckman, an initiative being led by the Department of Undergraduate Education. The chatbot sent out text messages to most of the freshmen cohort on March 30. An email from Keith Moo-Young, Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education, explained that the goal of the initiative is to boost student success.

Resident assistants voted overwhelmingly 55-9 to approve the RA Union. The election, administered by the National Labor Relations Board, took place last Tuesday and Wednesday in the Union. Rensselaer will now be required by law to bargain collectively with the union in relation to RA compensation, benefits, and working conditions.

Former President of the Union Colleen Corrigan ’23G held her final E-Board meeting as President last week. She will be succeeded by Ava Gallagher ’23G.

Ben Viner ’24 has been elected Grand Marshal and Ava Gallagher ’23G has been elected President of the Union. Ria Massoni '24 was reelected as Undergraduate President.

The Senate approved changes to the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy along with changes to the Judicial Process. Both sets of changes were aimed at providing more clarity to students about when certain policies apply.

The Senate approved the GM Week Elections Handbook, appointed Aaryan Bhatt ’25 as E-Board Club and Organization Representative and Raven Levitt ’26 as Member-At-Large Representative, and impeached two senators.

RPI Playhouse and E-Complex were flooded over the weekend

The Center for Career Professional Development and Panhellenic Council were approved to use three rooms in the Union for company info sessions and a “Meet the Chapters” event, respectively. Also, Ramesis Munoz-Valverde ’24 was appointed Club Ops Chair.

The Student Senate held a discussion led by Philip Paterson ’25 on the recent flooding of Colonie B. Jacob Fuhr was appointed as Class of 2025 Representative, and the Senate approved a motion to urge the Campus Card Office and Student Life to allow students to use their preferred names on their IDs.

The Student Senate rejected a proposal to increase class dues by one dollar. Undergraduate President Ria Massoni ’24 submitted the proposal so that the class councils and Undergraduate Council could have more funds available for events and to send two students to the National Association for Campus Activities Conference. Also, Class of 2024 Senator Gabriel Tambalini was impeached.

Miles Thomas was elected Class of 2026 President and Addison Mulder was elected Class of 2026 Vice President. Class senators and representatives were also elected.

The Student Senate unanimously approved a change to the Undergraduate Council Budget Policy clarifying how class dues are distributed to class councils.