Member Newsletter

February 17, 2011

 

Officer Spotlight 

Meet Ashley VP for Alumni Relations

Why did you decide to run for a VP of Red & White?  I absolutely loved my first year in R&W, so I ran for VP, because I wanted to get more involved in the organization. VP of Alumni Relations is a fun position, because I get to interact with alumni often, plan events, and send members all over the country (usually in small boxes with holes poked in them). 

How has Red & White helped you specifically? R&W gives students many amazing opportunities to meet our awesome alumni. This past summer I worked for GE, and sat across from an alumna that I met at an event. I've also been to Boston, NYC and D.C. through R&W. 

What is your favorite Red & White Memory so far? Reunion and homecoming last fall was really fun in a “you sunk my battleship” sort of way. I met an alumnus whose son is an international rugby referee, which was really cool in a “romantic comedy” sort of way. Another favorite memory is Geoff Seber smelling Kelly's hair (funny in a “get the wrong order from the Chinese restaurant” sort of way). 

Do you have any tips and advice for Red & White members? Go to as many events as you can and take full advantage of all the free food! 

   

Name: Ashley Meenaghan Year: 2011 Major:  Chemical Engineering Hometown: Brewster, NY     Spotlight by Ashley Meenaghan and edited by Lucas Doyle 

"Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought

together." - Vincent van Gogh

Questions or comments for the newsletter? Send them to Sujoy. phooks@rpi.edu   

Outstanding Members 

Ben Lewis JP Trasatti

For helping with Murder Mystery Dinner and other recent events

Stir Up Some Class Rivalry with a Game of Pushball

Charles Carletta When I was in high school, some of the most excit-

ing activities took place during our school’s field day. It was kind of like I was a noble Gryffindor competing against a Slytherin in Harry Potter’s House Cup, except with less wands and broomsticks. An intense rivalry existed between the classes because everyone wanted the glory of being crowned the champs. Now that I am in college I sometimes miss this frivolous but exciting competition. My interest in class rivalry was unexpectedly renewed when I stumbled across the game of Pushball in the RPI Archives.

The Pushball Rush, as it was called in 1914, is a competition between the freshman and sophomore classes in the spring semester. The object of the game was to push a large ball across an established line to the opponent’s side for a goal. Originally each class could enter up to 120 men to compete in the game, which was refereed by the Grand Mar-shal. At the start of the game each class would line up on either side of the field and then “rush” the ball placed in the center when signaled by the GM. The class that scored the most points in each 15 minute game won the match.

According to the 1915 Student Handbook, the pushball donated to RPI by the class of 1905 assured that the pushball rush would remain a tradition and continue for fu-ture classes. Nonetheless interest in the game began to dwin-dle in 1929 when pushball was no longer hosted as an event.

It was later revived in the 1960s as a freshman inter-dorm contest called, “Beanie Ball.”

It seems that spirited competition, like RPI’s

pushball, is a thing of the past. I for one feel that this is a shame because it passed up on a great opportunity for classes to bond with each other and form a sense of unity. This year, however, RPI will see a revitalization of the Pushball Rush at the Winter Carnival on February 14th. Generations of students have played this game to prove once and for all who had the better Class. The question I ask you is will you be there when the competition begins?

Recent Red & White Events! Recent Red & White Events! 

Face Painting at the Big Red Freakout! 

This picture is going up in the Union! 

Human Curling! 

Campus Relations Updates We will be helping out at  and planning some of the following events:  Disney Institute  DJ Off for End of 

Year  FYE Mixer for Fall 

2012 We will need lots of help so stay tuned for details. 

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