Student Government
Student Government of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
The Student Government of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute operates under the Rensselaer Union, a student-run organization established in 1890 [source]. The student government is notable as one of the few remaining student-controlled unions in the United States, historically maintaining autonomous authority over a multi-million dollar budget, facilities, and professional staff [source].
The governance structure is defined by the Rensselaer Union Constitution and consists of multiple branches including the Student Senate (legislative), Executive Board (financial/operational), Judicial Board (judicial), and two representational councils.
History
Early Development (1865-1890)
The position of Grand Marshal was created in 1865 (some sources indicate 1866) [source] to honor a student respected and admired by his classmates. The first Grand Marshal was Major Albert Metcalf Harper of Delta Phi, who had left Rensselaer to fight in the Civil War during his sophomore year and returned as Major Harper [source]. He was elected and presented with a ceremonial sword befitting his military rank. His function was to head and represent the entire student body on all occasions, thereby giving it formal unity.
Formation of the Rensselaer Union (1890)
Students formed the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Union in the fall of 1890, stemming from a desire to be taken more seriously for their athletic endeavors, to be more competitive with rival colleges, and to create social ties with Troy citizens [source]. At this time, the first President of the Union , W.C.H. Slagle, was elected [source].
Between 1890 and 1894, there was only a President of the Union position, with no Grand Marshal. Starting with the 1894-1895 school year, the President of the Union and Grand Marshal positions ran side by side, a tradition that continues to this day [source].
Physical Facilities
The first official home for the Rensselaer Union was a student clubhouse built in 1908, located at the west end of the '86 Field [source]. This building featured a lounge for receptions, meetings and dances, along with lockers, showers, billiards, toilets, a dining room, and a kitchen.
By the 1950s, the student body had grown to such an extent that the building was overcrowded. Planning for a new student union began in 1955. In March 1958, a referendum was presented to increase the student activity fee by $5 to fund a new union, which passed with 79% student support during the April Grand Marshal election.
Construction of the current Rensselaer Union building began in early 1965, designed by Ernest J. Kump Associates [source]. Students contributed more than $250,000 toward the $3 million building cost [source]. The Union was opened to students in May 1967 and formally dedicated in October. The main dining hall was named the McNeil Room in honor of Frank McNeil, director of the Union from 1929 to 1968 [source].
Structure and Organization
Student Senate (Legislative Branch)
The Student Senate serves as the chief legislative, representative, and policy-making body of the Union [source]. The Senate is composed of approximately 26 voting senators and is presided over by the Grand Marshal, the highest elected student official.
Their key responsibilities include: approving changes to the Union Constitution, setting the annual Student Activity Fee, addressing campus-wide issues through various committees, and writing policy governing the Union.
Executive Board (Financial Branch)
The Executive Board serves as the chief operational and financial arm of the Union, focusing on budgetary matters and daily operations of Union-funded entities [source]. It is composed of between 15 and 20 voting representatives and is chaired by the President of the Union.
Their key responsibilities include Managing the Union budget (historically exceeding $8 million), funded by the Student Activity Fee [source] and allocating such funds to over 200 student-run clubs and organizations [source]. They also approve clubs for Union classification and provide resources, while executive board representatives individually meet with their respective clubs to guide them through the budgeting process and represent clubs during budget deliberations.
Judicial Board (Judicial Branch)
The Judicial Board serves as the judicial authority of the student body, acting as the interpreter of the Union's governing documents and arbiter of student rights. It is presided over by the Chairman of the Judicial Board.
Responsibilities:
Constitutional interpretation of the Union Constitution and Senate Bylaws
Elections oversight, including validating Grand Marshal Week election results and ruling on campaign violations
Conducting hearings on student conduct cases and grievances filed by students against Union bodies
Undergraduate Council and Graduate Council
These two representational branches focus on issues specific to their respective student populations. The Undergraduate President is a separately elected position that focuses on class-specific events and initiatives.
Key Leadership Positions
Grand Marshal
The Grand Marshal (GM) is the highest elected student leader at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a position that has existed since 1865. Article V, Section II of the Rensselaer Union Constitution defines the Grand Marshal as the presiding officer of the Student Senate and an ex officio member of all committees, serving as the leader and chief spokesperson for the entire Union.
Role and Powers:
Presides over Student Senate meetings
Serves as a normally non-voting member of the Student Senate (may cast a tie-breaking vote)
Has the power to appoint student representatives (subject to Senate majority approval)
Serves on Institute committees as representative of the student body
Meets with the President and Board of Trustees to represent student interests
Traditionally symbolized by a top hat
The Grand Marshal position was historically restricted to members of the Junior class who had been students at Rensselaer for at least three full terms. A constitutional restriction prevented anyone who had previously served as Grand Marshal or President of the Union from seeking either office again. This restriction was removed in 1972, making it possible for incumbents to seek re-election [source]. Peter Baldwin became the first student re-elected to the position of President of the Union in 2005 [source].
There have been 159 Grand Marshals in the history of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, with only one two-term Grand Marshal [source]. Two Grand Marshals resigned mid-term: James Larrowe in 1885 (due to financial circumstances) and Peter Traversy in 1982 (due to academic reasons requiring withdrawal from Rensselaer for the spring semester) [source].
President of the Union
The President of the Union (PU) is elected by the student body and serves as the chief financial and operational officer of the Union. The President of the Union chairs the Executive Board and is responsible for the financial health of the organization and management of Union facilities. Traditionally symbolized by a derby hat, this position requires working closely with Union staff, athletics staff, and student clubs.
The President appoints an Executive Board of 15-20 students who must be confirmed by the Student Senate. These representatives are responsible for preparing and approving the budget for the following fiscal year, keeping track of and distributing Union funds, and managing business affairs with other facilities.
Grand Marshal Week
Grand Marshal Week (GM Week) is the annual election cycle for student government positions, typically occurring in late March [source]. The week has evolved from "Grand Marshal Night" in the 19th century to a week-long celebration featuring dozens of events.
[ADD INFORMATION ON GM WEEK]
Grand Marshal Week is managed by a subcommittee of the Union Programs and Activities Committee (UPAC), which is dedicated to planning and executing events for this important week in the RPI calendar.
Administrative Support
While student leaders hold primary decision-making authority, they are supported by professional staff led by the Director of the Union, a full-time Institute employee who acts as an advisor to the Grand Marshal and President of the Union. Historically, the hiring and supervision of the Director of the Union fell under the authority of the Executive Board as specified in the Union Constitution.
"Save the Union" Controversy (2016-2017)
In March 2016, a significant controversy emerged when a job posting was discovered for an "Executive Director of Student Activities" position that would report directly to the Dean of Students [source]. This was viewed as a violation of the Rensselaer Union Constitution, which granted the Executive Board sole authority over hiring and supervision of Union administrative personnel. The posting was quickly removed following student outcry, but the responsibilities were subsequently added to the Dean of Students position [source].
Students and alumni formed the "Save the Union" movement to preserve the student-run nature of the Union [source]. A protest in Spring 2016 drew over 1,000 students, faculty, and alumni [source]. Despite initial statements from President Shirley Ann Jackson that there were no plans to take over the Rensselaer Union, tensions continued.
The controversy escalated when the administration allegedly removed "Save the Union" posters and denied protest permits. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) sent multiple letters to RPI regarding what they viewed as violations of free speech principles [source]. Student demonstrators faced judicial charges that were later dismissed by Dean of Students Travis Apgar, who stated "the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of responsibility" [source].
On September 27, 2017, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Arthur F. Golden sent a message to the RPI community announcing that the Board had passed a resolution granting President Jackson sole authority over "any decisions on the hiring, formal reporting line, removal, and other terms and conditions of employment of the Director of the Union" [source]. This resolution effectively nullified provisions of the Union Constitution regarding the Director of the Union position, ending 127 years of student control over this aspect of Union operations.
The controversy led to a significant decline in alumni donations. According to U.S. News & World Report data, RPI's alumni participation rate fell from 24 percent in 2001 to 12 percent in 2016, while its rank for alumni giving fell from 48th to 88th over the same period [source]. Many alumni cited the Union governance dispute as their reason for withholding donations.
Additional administrative changes included limiting the Executive Board's ability to fund club spending and transferring control of RPI's varsity athletics programs from the Executive Board (which had overseen and funded them for more than 124 years) to the administration [source]. During the 2020 online Arch semester, the administration changed the student Activity Fee without Union approval [source].
Current Status
As of the 2025-2026 academic year, the Student Senate is in its 56th term [source]. The 159th Grand Marshal is Tiburon "T" Leon Benavides, and the 136th President of the Union is Isabele Lieber [source]. The Student Senate meets on Tuesdays at 6pm in the Shelnutt Gallery of the Rensselaer Union [source].
Current student government initiatives include revising Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) and Good Samaritan policies, investigating campus composting options, improving campus lighting and safety through light walks with the Department of Public Safety, developing a shuttle tracker system, and addressing issues related to the Arch program, mental health services, dining hall hours, and campus accessibility.
The Student Government maintains offices in the Student Government Suite on the third floor of the Rensselaer Union building and operates social media accounts to communicate with the student body.
Student Newspaper Coverage
The Rensselaer Polytechnic (also called The Polytechnic or The Poly), founded in 1869 and publishing continuously since 1885, serves as the student-run news organization covering student government [source]. The newspaper historically published endorsements of student government candidates and provided profiles of registered candidates for all levels of student government during election periods.