Introduction[edit]

The Grand Marshal, or GM, has been the highest-elected student leader position in the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student government since 1866.

GM Week refers to the week of campaigning, entertainment, and contests that surrounds the election of this GM position.

Overview[edit]

Major Albert Metcalf Harper of Delta Phi was the first appointed GM.

Major Albert Metcalf Harper

Since 1866 there have been 156 GMs.

Ben Viner is the current GM.

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Ben Viner being initiated as GM with Cait Bennett (former GM) Ava Gallagher (Current PU) and Colleen Corrigan (Former PU)

Cait Bennett was the only GM to ever serve two terms in the position.

Due to the formation of the RPI Union in 1890, there were no GMs elected from 1890-1893. This was because of a student government restructuring which included a President of the Union (PU), Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer. The PU was viewed as the new student leader and the GM was deemed an unnecessary ceremonial figure.

The GM position was resurrected in 1894 out of the student body's desire to "enhance the social life of students" and the position was held by former PU Athol Morton Miller.

Early Traditions[edit]

Each GM was presented with a baton that was handed down and inscribed with each prior GM's name. It was retired to the library after the 12th GM but the location of the baton is no longer known since the library has no account of where it ended up.

By 1883, GM election traditions included a "Grand Marshal's election night." On May 26, 1883, William A. Aycrigg was elected as GM in Harmony Hall in downtown Troy, and the retiring GM was presented with a gold-headed cane. The students celebrated the election of the new GM by filling the streets of Troy and parading through the city. It was this night that they stopped at Boughton's hat store, and Aycrigg was given a high silk hat. This hat has been passed down and worn by all GMs since.

The traditionally all-male student parade was known to walk all the way to the Emma Willard School in order to serenade the girls. In the early years of the celebrations, the Freshman class would wear white nightshirts in the parade while the upperclassmen tried to rip the shirts off of them. The students would return to Harmony Hall at night and celebrate with food, drink, and dancing.

Another key tradition from early GM week celebrations included the unwritten duty of the Freshman class to go around the campus, cleaning up the candidates' posters the night of the election. They were then expected to join all the students at the Approach to hear the results of the election. It was seen as their transition to the Sophomore class year as the end of the spring semester was within reach.

Early Management[edit]

Traditionally, the events of GM Week have been planned and executed by the RPI Student Senate, with support from other student organizations on campus. The week usually kicked off with a ceremony in which the current GM handed over the position to the next elected GM. This ceremony was usually followed by a parade around the campus, which was attended by students, faculty, staff, and members of the community.

Throughout the week, there were various activities and events organized by the Student Senate and other student organizations. These events may have included trivia nights, talent shows, concerts, sporting events, and community service projects. In addition, there were often workshops and seminars focused on leadership development and community engagement.

Modern Day[edit]

Today, the GM Week committee, which lies under the Union Programming and Activities Committee (UPAC), is the organizing body that plans the elections, events, and activities of the week.

Events are hosted every day of the week by organizations and fraternities on campus, including concerts, volleyball tournaments, and an egg-drop competition. On the Wednesday of GM Week, there are no classes so that students may go vote.

Every student is eligible to vote for Grand Marshal (GM), President of the Union (PU), and Undergraduate President. Depending on the class year, students will also vote for their class council: president, vice president, senators, and representatives. By voting in elections, students receive a complimentary mug to commemorate the theme of that year's GM Week. At the end of the week, the final induction ceremony is held, where the former PU and GM exchange their top hats to the newly elected PU and GM.