Wednesday, March 28, 2018 Volume CXXXVIII, No. 23 • poly.rpi.edu

FEATURES Page 8FEATURES Page 8 EDITORIAL Page 6 Peter Staying safe and Begonja appreciating spring

Justin Grand marshal says Etzine final goodbyes Research explores “generative jus- Vance Joy provides calm, Matthew PU encourages tice” in indigenous culture relaxing study music Rand Union donations TOWN MEETING Jackson addresses recent concerns

Jonathan Caicedo/The Polytechnic DURING THE SPRING TOWN MEETING, JACKSON ADDRESSES a list of student concerns from a flyer distributed by Save the Union.

Brookelyn Parslow at the event entrance. It outlined what Save the seen intermittently standing and talking with Senior Reporter Union considers “some of the most important the students distributing flyers and buttons. The updates” since the last Fall Town Meeting, students were not asked to leave. “I’LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT WHAT I which included the stalling of a search for a di- Vice President for Human Resources Curtis thought we would do is, since I know a number of rector of the Union, the forwarding of Professor Powell addressed the first point on the flyer, you received this flyer—we thought we would just Chris Bystroff’s email to alumni, and specula- which asserted that the “administration [gave] walk through these questions and give you answers tions about the capital campaign’s progress. a [director of the Union] candidate the [stu- to them,” said President Shirley Ann Jackson dur- Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students dent committee’s] interview questions.” ing the Spring Town Meeting at the Experimental Travis T. Apgar; Director of Student Rights, “I was informed by [President of the Union] Media and Performing Arts Center on March 22. Responsibilities, and Judicial Affairs Michael Matt [Rand] that the candidate had the questions. Serving the Jackson was referencing a flyer that was Arno; Dean of Student Living and Learning distributed by two members of Save the Union Cary Dresher; and a Public Safety officer were See TOWN MEETING, Page 2 Rensselaer community EXECUTIVE BOARD since 1885 Process for handling confl icts Inside of interest codifi ed in new policy Comics ...... 5 Jonathan Caicedo Johnson explained that “[their] Union’s travel contingency fund ed the Board’s Conflict of Interest current lighting fixtures were to bring eight members to The Policy. As Choiniere explained, this Editorial/Opinion . . . . 6 Senior Reporter purchased close to 30 years ago, National Intercollegiate Flying policy is the culmination of de facto Features ...... 8 VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNION and are no longer the standard in Association’s SAFECON 2018 in procedures and policies the Board Rasika Ekhalikar ’18 opened the lighting they once were.” This Terre Haute, Indiana. While the to- has been following that do not exist March 22 meeting of the Executive purchase is part of an ongoing tal cost of the trip exceeds $10,000, in an official document. The policy Board with three major items on process to improve their stage the Union will subsidize travel up defines what a “conflict of interest” the agenda. UPAC Lights and the lighting and the level of service to $4,000. Hole explained that the is to the Board, and describes the RPI Flying Club came before the they are able to provide to clubs. $10,000 would cover aircraft rent- procedures to be followed when Connect board with proposals, and further In addition to the estimated $825 als, conference fees, hotels, and a a conflict is presented. A motion discussion was had on the Board’s allocation, UPAC Lights would rental van for members not flying. to pass the Conflict of Interest Visit us online at: Conflict of Interest Policy, which also use their gift fund to purchase The rest of the $6,000 not cov- Policy also passed unanimously poly.rpi.edu was subsequently passed unani- the lighting fixtures. The Board ered by travel contingencies will 13-0-0. The policy can be found at Like us on Facebook: mously with a vote of 13-0-0. approved the reallocation into come from their existing allocated poly.rpi.edu/s/conflict. facebook.com/thepolytechnic UPAC Lights’ Chair Justin UPAC Lights’ reserve account budget for this competition. The The Executive Board meets Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: Johnson ’20 came before the Board with a unanimous vote of 13-0-0. Board approved the reallocation Thursdays at 8 pm in the Shelnutt @RPIPoly asking for a budget reallocation for the Next, RPI Flying Club rep- unanimously 13-0-0. Gallery of the Rensselaer Union. purchase of new intelligent lighting resentative Freddie Hole ’18 Finally, Policies Committee fixtures to update their current set. requested $4,000 from the Chair Anissa Choiniere ’20 present- 2 • News Wednesday, March 28, 2018 poly.rpi.edu Town Meeting: Capital campaign raises $25 million since launch in October Cumulative $425 million raised toward $1 billion goal since end of previous campaign in 2008

From Page 1 Cook explained that these policies and their consistent enforcement help keep I don’t know where the candidate received solicitation by outside organizations, such the questions from, whether he wrote them as credit card companies or the National down or whatever. So, I decided that we Rifle Association, off campus. would reconstitute the search, so that’s Vice President for Institute Advancement what we’re doing,” shared Powell. The Graig Eastin spoke to the flyer’s point about reconstituted search will begin “within the his decision to forward Professor Chris next two weeks or so.” Bystroff’s email, which attributed the de- According to Apgar, students will be “in- crease in alumni donations to racism and timately involved in the process, and their sexism, to the alumni mailing list. Eastin ex- input will be weighed pressed that the email was heavily on our ultimate “I don’t know where the already being discussed in decision.” candidate received the a “broad domain area,” and “Let me just reiterate questions from...” that forwarding it was “not about searches, all of our to make an opinion.” searches here. We’ve been very successful. Hunter stressed that the opinions ex- And to participate in these searches is not pressed in the email are not the official po- a right—it’s a privilege. And, given that sition of the Institute, and that the Institute privilege, we do expect individuals to act is supportive of freedom of expression. accordingly in representing this institution. When asked again about his decision to send And we went through a process to work the email and include “Important to get the with the student leadership; I’m gonna truth out there” as the subject line, Eastin change that process of how we do business,” said, “Knowing the factors that I know, if Powell later continued. they were the same today, I would do the Powell then invited the audience to a meet- same thing. And, so, that is where it is.” ing with the Student Senate and the Executive On the points raised about the capital Board on Monday, March 26 to discuss that campaign in the flyer, Eastin said, “an insti- process, because “we’re not going to tolerate tution is either in two states: in a campaign what we’ve been through the last time.” or preparing for a campaign. And so, yes, we Vice President for Strategic Communications actually are in a campaign and we actually and External Relations Richie Hunter addressed have raised over $400 million. And we’re the situation in which students distributing moving towards over $425 million. And so, material outside of a hockey game were asked we are in a campaign, and we started counting to leave by a Public Safety officer who claimed the campaign at the end of the last campaign. that RPI had “eminent domain” over a sidewalk. And that’s what every institution does.” According to Hunter, when students distributing The previous capital campaign concluded material outside of a hockey game were asked to on October 1, 2008, and the most recent capi- Brookelyn Parslow/The Polytechnic leave, a Public Safety officer tal campaign was launched TWO MEMBERS OF SAVE THE UNION DISTRIBUTE flyers outside of EMPAC incorrectly used the phrase on October 13, 2017. containing what they consider to be important updates since the Fall Town Meeting. “eminent domain.” “Knowing the factors The final point on the “The bottom line is, that I know, if they Save the Union flyer lists “The Handbook of Student Rights and He stressed that students, such as mem- and the officer may have were the same today, “many noticeable chang- Responsibilities is a university document. We bers of the Student Senate, are involved in made a mistake in his I would do the same es” to the Rensselaer have a responsibility to make sure that not only that process, but that there will not be a phraseology, but the thing...” Union, including that the is it up to date and following all of the external codified process that would “put in place property on which the Student Senate “lost its state and federal legislation that would tell us a bureaucracy that would delay any kind students were handing out the materials ability to approve changes to the Student how to enact policy, we also want to make of changes necessary for us to comply was Rensselaer-owned campus property,” Handbook,” and “the student body no longer sure that it’s appropriate for our students, our with state or federal policies or laws.” further elaborated General Counsel and meets Dr. Jackson with the same frequency student community, and the larger Rensselaer “Would I like to spend more time meeting Secretary Craig A. Cook. as they [sic] once did.” community,” explained Apgar. with students? Absolutely. But, if you want to ask, you know, where my focus is—if I can create an Off Campus Commons, if I can create a Safe Ride service, if I can increase the financial aid budget, if we can still keep hiring instructional staff, if we can improve student housing, you know, we’ve done a multi-year renovation of the [Quadrangle Complex], and so forth—then, those are the things that are my greatest responsibility.” shared Jackson, in response to the flyer’s claims about her frequency of meeting with students. Jackson later elaborated, “It is simply an untruth to try to propagate that I do not meet with students, and I don’t want to use a stronger word, but it is important that all of us tell the whole truth. And I really care deeply about our students, I care deeply about the full Rensselaer community. The Board [of Trustees], and I said this in more than one form, asked me to come here to effect transformative change. I’ve come to do that, and that is what has been happening. “There were many things that had to be ad- dressed when I got here. Not all of those deci- sions are popular. But in the end, one makes the decisions that one has to make. And I’ve com- mitted and I’ve stayed here for 19 years, in spite of things that have shown up in the media, both internal to the university and external—some of which has been pretty egregious. But, I’m committed to what I do. And I love the people here. And that’s my statement.” Jonathan Caicedo/The Polytechnic DEAN APGAR RESPONDS to questions about student involvement in the director of the Union search at the Spring Town Meeting. See TOWN MEETING, Page 3

Serving the Rensselaer community since 1885 poly.rpi.edu Wednesday, March 28, 2018 News • 3 STUDENT SENATE Faculty Senate rep now student-elected Nicholas Luczak Senior Reporter

T HE STUDENT SENATE HELD its second to last meeting on Wednesday. The Senate planned to wrap up the year by present- ing a finished senator guide, an- nouncing the annual Lupus Walk, and approving a motion which aimed to outline the election and appointment of a student repre- sentative on the Faculty Senate. At the conclusion of the com- mittee reports, the Senate moved on to special orders of the day. Senator Steven Sperazza ’18 started off this portion of the meeting by presenting his com- mittee’s new senator guide. The purpose of the senator guide is to allow for a smooth transition for newly elected mem- bers of the Senate, as well as to have a reference for key senator responsibilities. The guide aimed to be as “agnostic as possible,” so as to prevent any reader opinions from reducing the efficacy of the guide. The guide was delineated into key components, giving an introduction of the first steps a senator should take after being elected, a brief overview of how Student Senate works, an outline Nicholas Luczak/The Polytechnic of the project writing process, tips SENATOR STEVEN SPERAZZA ’18 PRESENTS new senator guide which aims introduce new senators to fundamental responsibilities and processes. on how to be an effective debater, an overview of Robert’s Rules, that about 1.5 million Americans campus, and will eventually Arroyo hope to see an upturn in Justin Etzine ’18 expressed that it and some suggestions on how to are affected by the autoimmune return to the ’86 Field for a this year’s attendance. would be beneficial to leave this work with administrators in a pro- disease lupus—a majority of comfortable hour-long, two- After the well-received and decision up to the student body, fessional manner. The guide was whom are women of color—and mile walk. After the walk, the highly praised presentation of the who he believes would do a better well-received by senators, as the that there is currently no outright ’86 field will feature food from Lupus Walk, the Senate then moved job of selecting a popular faculty process to become a senator can cure. Arroyo went on to say that, Troy Waterfront Farmers Market to new business, where they consid- member than any single grand mar- initially offer some challenges. “For 17 years, the Walk with favorites such as Muddy Trail ered a new motion concerning the shal. Senator Sperazza made his After Senator Sperazza’s pre- Us to Cure Lupus program has Jerky Co, Muddaddy Flats, and appointment of a faculty member opinion on the motion clear when sentation, Project Lead Naya raised over $28 million for lupus O’Malley’s Oven. The event representing the student body on he said, “This seems appropriate, Hill and Community Relations research,” and that they hoped to will also offer lawn games, the Faculty Senate. this seems well written; I think this Committee Vice Chair Isabella contribute to that effect. tables for eating, speakers with The position was traditionally is a good idea.” The motion was Arroyo presented their progress The second annual Lupus music, and raffle drawings. Last filled whenever the grand marshal passed unanimously 18-0-0. on the second annual Lupus Walk. Walk—which will be held on year’s walk had an attendance chose someone that they felt would The 48th Student Senate will The presentation began with April 21—will start on the ’86 of about 30 people, but because do a good job, or someone who had hold its last meeting of its term some context as to why the event Field and make a loop through of improvements in the efficacy been recommended by the previ- on Wednesday, March 28 in the is so important. Hill explained Troy, including Sage College of advertising this year, Hill and ous representative. Grand Marshal Shelnutt Gallery. Town Meeting: Global issues addressed From Page 2 Applications for the upcoming freshman class totalled 20,375—a five percent increase from last year’s record- Prior to reviewing the flyer and yielding questions from breaking number. the audience, Jackson shared updates on Rensselaer’s in- “Even more telling is the fact that for an enormous number coming freshman class and the approved operating budget of students, Rensselaer is their very first choice. So they for the next fiscal year. decide to apply for early decision, which is binding if we “Our superb academic programs prepare Rensselaer accept them. And we received the most early decisions students to lead, and I congratulate our faculty, students, applications and confirmations in our history. 30 percent and administrators, and staff for the degree to which of the incoming class of freshmen will have been admitted these programs are now being lauded by many different through early decision,” Jackson later continued. sources,” expressed Jackson. The Board of Trustees approved an operating budget of These sources included rankings by College Choice, $439.5 million for the upcoming fiscal year; tuition for DesignIntelligence, the TFE Times, and College Factual. both undergraduate and graduate students will increase by Notably, the Information Technology and Web Science three percent to total $52,550, remaining in line with other program was ranked first by College Choice, and The universities. Room and board will increase by two percent, Princeton Review ranked Rensselaer 19th in the nation for and the financial aid budget will increase by 5.3 percent. “Best Career Placement” in its 2018 annual guide. Jackson also announced that the 212th commencement cer- “Our ability to anticipate which emerging disciplines emony will take place on Friday, May 18 in the EMPAC Concert are likely to prove most important is one reason why de- Hall. Honorary degrees will be given to Herbie Hancock, Mary mand for a Rensselaer education has never been higher,” Jo White, Eric Lander, and Alicia Bohler Davis. said Jackson.

Get ready to exercise your voting rights! Keep an eye out for endorsements in our GM Week issue next Monday.

Jonathan Caicedo/The Polytechnic EASTIN ANSWERS questions about the campaign.

Serving the Rensselaer community since 1885 4 • Advertisement Wednesday, March 28, 2018 poly.rpi.edu

Serving the Rensselaer community since 1885 poly.rpi.edu Wednesday, March 28, 2018 Comics • 5

DILBERT by Scott Adams TOP TEN LIST Political Scandals 10. Donald Trump 9. NSA surveillance 8. Postergate 8 7. Squirrels 6. Cambridge Analytica 5. EMPAC 4. Pizzagate 3. Ted Cruz ate my son 2. 2015 GM Week Mason jars 1. Student-run Union WORD FIND by Weston Brousseau Words can be found forwards, backwards, up, down, and in both diagonals. Types of Flowers L I L L B U T T E R C U P F I S F V B Y T E W C U P G S E R T A R R L I L L A C B O U R I U D C E Y U L P O P P Y N V S L R E T W I E H F S W M F I E I O D I V O G T N Y M I L O S P A W R N V L Y E L T U O L T C V E Y F I R F G L Y D W E I T A R E L O N M L I O F E M F D A I S Y L R E T L I X M V L C E R H R E G B N M E C V I O T S A M O D N M H I U B B O W Q W O P S L M R A U O T O L E D S A X E I R E S R P L M E R E S E L L S U L O A I E A T G R A N E M O N E E R T G I S B N I P R E T N M C E Y U O G T L O L R E W O L F N U S H L Y R A D N E V A L B Y T I L O D Anemone Irises Marigold Sunflower Bellflower Lavendar Peony Tulip Buttercup Lillac Poppy Violets Daisy Lilly Rose

If you have any funny jokes, send them to [email protected] and they may be featured in The Poly next week!

Serving the Rensselaer community since 1885 Editorial Wednesday, March 28, 2018 EDITORIAL NOTEBOOK Advice for springtime Jjj AS THE TEMPERATURES SLOWLY INCREASE AND THE during this time include seeing waterfalls larger snow on the ground diminishes, it finally seems than their usual size from the snow melting and that winter is over. After a cold and the lack of pesky insects in the woods. snowy winter, spring has finally ar- Spring time is also known as the Editor in Chief rived. Soon, the warmer temperatures time for allergies. All the new growth Brookelyn Parslow will give us more opportunities to outside produces a significant amount spend time outdoors. The season of of pollen in the air. It is estimated by [email protected] spring is the perfect time to go outside the FDA that over thirty six million and enjoy nature. However, there are individuals suffer from pollen related Editorial Board

certain precautions that are to be con- allergies in the United States every Senior Managing Editor Tyler Carney [email protected] sidered in order to have an enjoyable year. Your body mistakes the harmless Contributing Editor Crystal Vejar [email protected] and memorable experience. pollen for something else and produces Contributing Editor Nicholas Luczak [email protected] News Editor Darby Burns [email protected] Hiking is one of the best ways to Peter a response which causes many people Business Manager Peter Begonja [email protected] enjoy the outdoors. With it being a to experience irritation and inflamma- de facto Features Editor Anahit Hovhannisyan [email protected] Begonja good exercise, hiking allows you to tion. Since there is no cure for this, it de facto Sports Editor Brookelyn Parslow [email protected] Busniess Manager de facto Editorial/Opinion Editor Crystal Vejar [email protected] enjoy the beauty that nature has to is best to take several actions to avoid Copy Editor Serge Piskun [email protected] offer. With the forest experiencing new growth the discomfort. First, you can avoid long time de facto Composing Editor Tyler Carney [email protected] de facto Photography Editor Nicholas Luczak [email protected] during the spring, there are many different types exposure outdoors when the pollen count is very de facto Web Editor Jonathan Caicedo [email protected] of flowers, trees, and other flora to experience. high. Similarly, pollen levels are highest from Associate Features Editor Anahit Hovhannisyan [email protected] Within an hour drive of the capital region, there midday into the afternoon. There are many dif- Associate Features Editor Anna Koenig [email protected] are many different trails of varying difficulties ferent medications that can be taken in order to Associate Photography Editor Jonathan Caicedo [email protected] to hike. However, if you choose to go hiking, lessen the symptoms of allergies. Nasal sprays, you should consider several things to make eye drops, and anti-histamines are common types Coordinators sure you have a pleasurable experience. First, of medications that help individuals who suffer Advertising Director Brookelyn Parslow [email protected] you should make sure to check the weather from pollen related allergies. Web Director Sidney Kochman [email protected] Systems Director Sidney Kochman [email protected] forecast since spring weather can sometimes be The spring time offers us with many opportuni- Systems Coordinator Jonathan Caicedo [email protected] unpredictable. Also, make sure that you wear ties to go outside and enjoy nature. As the days Systems Coordinator Joseph Lyon [email protected] the proper attire since hiking in the spring can get longer, we have more opportunities to enjoy Copy Coordinator Maria Kozdroy [email protected] Features Coordinator Jacob Kaplan [email protected] often be wet as a result of the melting snow. the bright sunshine and the warmer weather. As Features Coordinator Pragati Pant [email protected] Consider bringing a jacket or another layer of long as we keep certain precautions in mind, all Graphics Coordinator Ana Wishnoff [email protected] clothing since the temperatures can also vary of us can have a safe and enjoyable season. Operations Coordinator Rex Hu [email protected] significantly. Some of the advantages of hiking The Rensselaer Polytechnic is published weekly, except during holiday and examination periods, by the students of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as authorized by the Rensselaer Union. Opinion pieces in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or the Rensselaer Union. All submitted material becomes the property of The Rensselaer Polytechnic. The Editorial Board reserves the right to edit for reasons of space, clarity, libel, or style and to compose headlines for all articles printed. “Letters to the Editor” must be typed, signed, and fewer than 500 Do you have questions you would like us words in length. “My Views” must be typed, signed, and between 500 and 700 words in length. The telephone number of the author is required for letter verification. All letters are due by 5 pm on the Friday prior to publication, and can be sent in a Word document attachment via email to [email protected]. to ask your fellow classmates through Poly Views expressed in opinion columns provide differing viewpoints to help balance the newspaper and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Editorial Board. 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LETTER TO THE EDITOR Responses to student concerns at Spring Town Meeting misleading, disappointing TO THE RPI COMMUNITY: 1,000 students—five percent of of expression,” couldn’t occur responded to our point about administration for how one can- According to Dr. Jackson, the the student body still represents without the watchful presence class councils no longer being didate had received a copy of the concerns of hundreds of students over 380 students. How does one of Public Safety in addition to able to email their class lists. He interview questions in advance, are nothing more than over am- overlook 380 concerned students, multiple judicial administrators commented, “They don’t have all while the students’ attempts to plified dissent, worthy only of a let alone 1,000 deeply concerned, from the Dean of Students Of- direct access,” while sidestepping communicate were dismissed. dismissive acknowledgement. peacefully protesting students? fice. We might’ve even enjoyed the fact that they did have direct The most troubling comment On Wednesday, March 21, Perhaps the administration conversing with them, had they access prior to this semester. He from the Spring Town Meeting Dr. Jackson attended a “Leader- hopes for a return to a new not been trying so hard to distract enlightened the audience with his came from Dr. Jackson near its ship Luncheon” hosted by the version of that old adage: that us from handing out the very flyer reasoning for this, explaining, end, and it mirrors her statement Times Union in which the current students should be seen but not that became the focal point of the “email, first, is not the more effec- earlier in the week. She said, “We controversies on RPI’s campus heard. Dr. Jackson’s statement meeting, stimulating many ques- tive way [to communicate],” and also size the number of actual were among the topics discussed. seems to indicate a preference tions from the audience. While that “students are bombarded with students who appear to be upset, In response to a question about for students that are quiet au- we were encouraged by our issues hundreds of emails” on a daily and I would say that the vast the disturbing trends on campus, tomatons, rather than face the being addressed, the administra- basis. But despite knowing this majority of our students just go Jackson shrugged it aside, say- feedback of students who engage tion’s responses to each of our information about email appar- about their business every day.” ing, “Our students are a very in critical thinking. After all, why points were at best disappointing, ently being a poor method of com- Dr. Jackson may not acknowl- quiet student body. But there is engage in meaningful conversa- at worst, misleading. munication, it is still the primary edge it, but we are actual students, a social media amplification ef- tion, when ignoring and minimiz- In response to our concerns method by which Dr. Jackson and who have actually been removed fect that can occur, and I would ing the concerns of hundreds of about her unavailability, Dr. the administration communicate from campus, had an actual wall say that 95 or more percent of students remains an option? Jackson admitted she no longer with the RPI Community. built to keep us away from poten- our students are just going about During her Spring Town Meet- meets with student leaders or the While speaking about the tial alumni donors, faced actual their business … And these ing, Dr. Jackson spent the first student body with the same fre- botched director of the Union judicial charges, and most impor- students are still getting a great portion of the Q&A period ad- quency, as we had correctly stated search, Vice President for Human tantly, have actual grievances. education, and what they are dressing a flyer we had dis- on our flyer. But in a sudden Resources Curtis Powell declared, Indeed, we do share our con- learning even as a part of dissent tributed outside of the venue convolution of our statement, she “we’re not gonna tolerate what cerns via social media. But it is is a part of their education.” prior to the event. Notably, our pursued an alternate assertion, we went through the last time,” not mere amplification. It is our The RPI student body num- exercise in freedom of expres- proclaiming, “and so it is simply as though the administration had actual voices. bered 7,633 students last year. sion, which Vice President for an untruth to try to propagate that suffered the injustice. Yet, it was And we think it is time for an Even if we assume Dr. Jackson Strategic Communications and I do not meet with the students,” the students who were left out of actual conversation. has not seen photos or videos External Relations Richie Hunter despite our flyer never alleging the early stages of the process, from either of our major dem- would ironically soon defend in anything of the kind. censored from asking certain Save the Union onstrations during the last two the meeting by saying, “we are Assistant Vice President and questions, and were fed mul- years—both of which drew about completely supportive of freedom Dean of Students Travis Apgar tiple narratives fabricated by the poly.rpi.edu Wednesday, March 28, 2018 Ed/Op • 7 TOP HAT GM refl ects on past year, thanks all who helped RPI, I AM STUNNED AT HOW QUICKLY THE YEAR HAS FLOWN a foundation for future Student Government leaders to year whenever I asked. Serving as a sounding board by! Today marks my final Top Hat column to you all as continue communicating with students frequently in the for ideas and providing suggestions based on your own your 152nd grand marshal. spirit of honesty and accountability. experiences proved very helpful in navigating my term One year ago, I made a promise to each one of you— Unfortunately, after 127 years, our Union is no longer as grand marshal. I look forward to following your ex- no matter the circumstances, I would stand up for the student-run. I am deeply saddened by this change, and ample in supporting future grand marshals. rights, and advocate for the interests, of our student I have worked with my Student Government peers to To The Polytechnic, thank you for keeping us accountable body. This commitment encompassed general student advocate on the student body’s behalf in identifying a and for playing a major role in keeping students updated on concerns, Greek life, athletics, the Union, future for a student-run Union. The benefits our student government. Your commitment to our campus underrepresented minorities, and any other provided to our students, both personally and and student government is incredibly important for our group of students on campus. Reflecting on professionally, are innumerable, and I believe school, and I am excited to continue reading The Poly as the past year, I am proud to have stood by that our current and future students deserve to an alumnus to stay informed about happenings at RPI. promise for the entirety of my term. benefit from a truly student-run Union, as To the countless staff at RPI—both within the Union By all accounts, this year has proven to countless students have in the past century. and across campus—thank you for supporting our stu- be a rewarding—albeit challenging—year. Regardless of where or how I am involved in dents—including me—in all of their endeavors, both Students made their voices heard at impres- Student Government in the coming year, I fully academic and extracurricular. You continually inspire sive levels. Committees had almost double intend to continue serving as a strong advocate us to excel, and I am thrilled that our students are able the level of participation through students for a student-run Union. to work closely with all of you. choosing to volunteer. Over 1,000 students I would like to take the time to thank the And, above all, thank you to the students of RPI. Thank shared their opinions in the Fall 2017 Senate individuals that empowered me to succeed in you for making your voices heard. Thank you for standing Justin Survey, providing the Senate with a statisti- my term as grand marshal. To my mother, my for what you believe in. Thank you for questioning with the cally significant sample size (over 13 percent Etzine father, my brother, and my entire family, thank goal of always improving and better understanding. Thank of the entire campus population) of student Grand Marshal you for supporting me no matter what, being you for creating the RPI experience I will forever cherish opinions on a wide gamut of topics and issues. my strongest supporters, and for forgiving me and reflect upon as I move on into new phases of life. These committees saw great progress toward projects for the infrequent chances I have been able to call you I have one last request for all of you as I turn over with tangible benefits for the student body, such as an over this year. I love you so much, and I could not have the hat—please continue to stay informed and involved. online drop-in tutoring pilot program by the Academic succeeded without you. For my incredible friends, thank Continue reading updates from student government, Affairs Committee in collaboration with the Advising you for being my emotional support system this year and and keep expecting more if you do not believe you are & Learning Assistance Center; a prescription delivery for keeping me laughing even when times got stressful. receiving the information you need. Continue sharing service pilot program by the Student Life Committee as To the officers of the Student Senate—Ellie, Tim, your thoughts, ideas, concerns, suggestions, and com- a joint venture between Marra’s Pharmacy, the Executive Nino, Colleen, Risheel, Michael G, Caleb, Nancy, Jenna, ments to the Student Government. Your opinions form Board, and Procurement Services; and an expanded com- Michael C, Steve, Stef, Hannah, Joe, and Sidney—to the backbone of all of our efforts, and we are able to posting program proposal by the Facilities and Services the Student Senators, and to the countless volunteers better serve when hearing from you. Committee to promote sustainable practices at RPI. These participating in our committees, thank you for putting Until my term ends on Friday, April 6, please reach few examples demonstrate the commitment and dedication our students first. Your passion and dedication in lead- out to me at [email protected] to share your thoughts, com- our committees and their members have shown to improve ing and participating in committees, overseeing Senate ments, ideas, and concerns. After this, please feel free the student experience for our current and future peers. operations, and championing efforts for our constituents to continue reaching out to me at [email protected]. Furthermore, Student Government has also seen a has benefitted the student body tremendously, and the RPI, thank you for everything, and farewell! record-setting year in terms of direct, regular commu- students have you all to thank. I am excited to see what nication with the student body. The Student Government you accomplish in the future, and it has been an honor Communications Committee restructured its communi- to serve alongside each and every one of you. cations strategy and expanded its social media presence To the officers of the Union—Matt, Kayla, Nate, to promote frequent, quick interactions between the Stu- and Anthony—thank you for all of your hard work in dent Government and students. Additionally, the com- managing your respective arms of Student Government. mittee has realized a truly joint structure to accurately It has been a privilege to work with you all, and I have Justin Etzine represent all bodies of Student Government, not just the learned so much from each of you throughout this year. 152nd Grand Marshal Student Senate. Keeping the student body informed and To my fellow Top Hats, thank you for the invaluable involved is a top priority, and this committee has laid advice and guidance you have provided me with this DERBY Withholding Union donations hurts students SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1890, THE R ENSSELAER support from the Union—is extremely low, you the opportunity to join Rensselaer, I greatest people I have ever known, and Union has been an organization dedicated with less than 40 days left in the campaign. encourage you to focus on what made your have been fabulous me ntors to me. For to the advancement of students. It began, Of the 18 organizations, only one has hit time at Rensselaer so special. And that is that, I thank you. I would like to thank my and still remains, as an organization its goal thus far, and not a single other not only money that can be donated. Your Executive Board, who donated so much by the students, for the students. When organization is more than halfway to their money, your time, and physical gifts can time and energy towards improving the the Activity Fee was initiated as a self- goal. For example, the RPI Dance Team, all go a long way toward providing our Union and ensuring their clubs and or- imposed tax to provide the campus with which currently receives funds from the current students the same opportunities ganizations were successful. And lastly, communal opportunities, the founders Union, put out a weR Gold to that you experienced in your I would like to thank my vice president, of our Union never imagined their idea fund their first trip to a national time at RPI, or better. Rasika Ekhalikar, who I could not have would turn into the organization it is competition. However, due to the Every person who feels pas- made it through this year without. Thank today: an organization that remains a cost, they have had to fundraise sionately about the current you for all of your time, dedication, beacon on the hill for what college student a significant amount. The Union campus climate feels that way and support; it allowed me to tackle the unions can be in America. Executive Board provided them for a reason. There is some biggest issues facing the Union while However, our founders knew that they with additional funding beyond club or program that made your ensuring the Board moved forward with could not create their vision without support. what is stipulated in the budget- Rensselaer experience unique. business as usual. I could not have done That support came not only from students, ing guidelines from contingen- So I ask, instead of cutting off it without you. but from the administration. Ever since cies, but each individual student the Institute and hurting each Thank you all for letting me be your then, the Union and the administration have is still paying around $500 for and every student’s experience, president of the Union, and I wish you all worked hand in hand to further the student the trip, not including food. Their Matthew donate to what was important the best in your future endeavors. experience. The Union is not, and never has weR Gold, which aimed to help Rand to you. I know that once I been, independent of the administration. alleviate those costs, has barely President of the Union graduate, I’ll be donating to The Union is a part of the Institute, and raised 10 percent of the total cost our Union to ensure that the likewise, the administration is another part of the trip to date. Without the support of organization that made my time at Rens- of the Institute as well. We are one group, all this core business of the Union, and without selaer so meaningful continues to grow Matthew Rand dedicated to the success of RPI. The daily this auxiliary support to our clubs and orga- and prosper, no matter what. 128th President of the Union operations of the Union are directly tied to nizations, the Union is under more financial This past year has been a phenomenal the Institute, and vice versa. We are a single, pressure than we have seen in recent years. experience for me, both personally and intertwined unit with a shared purpose: giv- I respect the decision for students and professionally. Every day, I aimed to ing the best to our students, everyday. alumni to hold the administration to a represent our Union to the best of my To that end, recent campaigns to cut off higher standard. It is the responsibility of abilities and ensure that our functioning funding to the Institution have not left the our community to do so, and to demand stayed strong. I hope that I accomplished Make sure to vote Union unscathed. The Collegiate Store, the best from our leaders. However, I my goal, and I hope that my successor will which accounts for almost two thirds of would ask that we change the tone of continue that mission. I want to thank you the revenue the Union brings in, is not late. Instead of withholding donations, I all for making this year so meaningful, for your next GM projected to hit its target numbers for the would ask that everyone reconsider recent and hope that I did my best to represent first time since the transition from the rhetoric, and instead consider donating to you all and make you proud to call me the and PU during GM Union-backed Bookstore to the Follett- whatever made your time at Rensselaer president of your Union. operated Collegiate Store. meaningful. Whether that means donating Before I go, I would be remiss to not Week elections! The weR Gold campaign which is sup- to a specific research project, donating to a thank all of those who helped me through- porting 18 clubs and organizations this specific club or organization, or donating out this year. The administrative staff of year—many of which receive financial to a specific scholarship fund that afforded the Rensselaer Union are some of the

Serving the Rensselaer community since 1885 Features Wednesday, March 28, 2018 RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT Using high tech in circular economies Anahit Hovhannisyan found one of their best examples in Senior Reviewer African adinkra cloth production. Ashanti people of Ghana produce Driven by interests in humanities adinkra cloth to wear for special oc- and science, Professor Ron Eglash casions or ceremonies. The abstract conducts research surrounding symbols found on the cloth are “generative justice,” a research inspired by observations in nature, framework he has created. Having and hold significant meaning to worked with both indigenous cul- Ashanti people. Not only that, but tures around the world and urban they show logarithmic spirals from artisans, Eglash observed value in horns, plants, and other growth pat- “unalienated” forms, a term coined terns. This cloth is made by hand by Karl Marx. Eglash highlights a using stamps and ink, resourced problem concentrated around ap- from materials around them. The pointing value to a power-bearing ink is made from Badie tree, which figure or corporation and designat- is boiled in water and thickened. The ing it the task of redistribution, leftover fibers are planted and used to rather than distributing value from grow mushrooms. In addition, areas bottom to top. Thus, he aims to where this tree bark is extracted are answer, “How do we use high tech protected against deforestation. This to reinstitute circular economic process meets all three forms of forms?” Now, what is a circular value previously described. “While economic form? The concept is I cannot generalize to all adinkra defined by three forms of value: artisans,” said Eglash, “at least the labor value, ecological value, and particular group we were with took unalienated expressive value. La- visible pleasure in their labor: ev- bor value, as introduced by Marx, erything from hand carving stamps is the method of valuing a product to weaving the cloth carried a sense simply by the amount of labor of pride and purpose.” used to create it. Ecological value With this experience, Eglash is the value of a product based sought out artisans to explore on its contribution to benefiting the ways in which high tech can the environment. An example of improve value circulation without this is organic agriculture. Lastly, alienation. Working alongside expressive value is value gener- RPI Professor Audrey Bennett, ated from the happiness of the he has helped locals develop individual producing it; it is the systems to encourage condom Courtesy of ZSM value of associating the creator use, mitigating AIDS, and sup- or culture with the product. The porting reproductive freedom. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF “GENERATIVE JUSTICE” DEMONSTRATED above by an African native stamping the adinkra cloth with handmade stamps and ink for the use in ceremonies or special occasions. “circular” factor has to do with Solar energy will be introduced recycling each form of value back this year to replace wood fires in the math and computation behind studies in upstate New York. erated circular economy. Eglash into the system. ink production. Eglash and his indigenous traditions, such as Adinkra cloth is just one of many and his team are continuously Based in Rensselaer’s Department team have also created Culturally adinkra cloth, and teach such examples of how we can merge working to spread “generative of Science and Technology Studies Situated Design Tools. This patterns to students in STEM. It high tech with existing forms of justice” around the world. department, Eglash and his team program is designed to highlight has been applied to controlled unalienated value to create a lib-

ALBUM REVIEW Vance Joy’s Nation of Two offers listeners relaxing, somber sound Pragati Pant well with guitar strumming, creating a comforting Senior Reviewer melody. Other songs, like “Lay It On Me” and “We’re Going Home,” also feature background guitar riffs. Personally, I enjoyed “Saturday Sun”—the fourth Released late February, Vance Joy’s second studio song in the album—the most. This track is appealing album, Nation of Two, showcases the singer’s signature to me, because it features upbeat background music sound through a variety of songs. As a casual listener of with ukulele, and thoroughly represents the versatility indie pop and alternative music, I enjoyed it. and range of Joy’s voice. In the song, he is able to sing James Gabriel Keogh, better known as Vance Joy, is with a deeper voice, and suddenly reach high pitches as an Australian singer and songwriter. He is well-known the music changes. Vance Joy is definitely my first pick for his 2013 single, “Riptide.” Like most people, this artist when I’m in the mood for a slow, flowing album. song was my first introduction to Joy. I very much en- Many of his songs sound similar to each other, and, for joyed his soothing, yet husky voice combined with his that reason, prove to be a great playlist for when I’m storytelling lyrics. In 2014, Joy released his first debut doing homework or relaxing. studio album, Dream Your Life Away, which featured Altogether, if you are looking to relax or are in a the already popular tune “Riptide,” and received much somber mood, this is the album for you. Joy graces praise for his up-and-coming solo career. In the follow- his audience with a variety of songs that preach the ing years, fans anticipated the release of new music, importance of love, and how sometimes it’s hard to leading up to Nation of Two. move on by yourself; he emphasizes that people need This album highlights Joy’s artistic strengths through support, and asking for help or comfort doesn’t make the combination of his voice and lyrical choices. While you weak, but rather makes you human. most of his songs are sweet, soft, and generally full of I would highly recommend Nation of Two, for it pain, the first song in the album, “Call If You Need Me,” probably has something for everyone. We all need a is noteworthy, mainly for its lyrics. This song describes reminder here and there that we need to be loved, and the difficulties attached to moving on, and facing life’s Vance Joy provides that with his alluring voice. Courtesy of Liberation Music problems. Joy emphasizes that he’s only a call away, and NATURE OF TWO IS a heartwarming album about love and support. will be there for support. This sweet message is paired