Introduction

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.

Fun Facts

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

Since 1866 there have been 156 GMs.

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.

GM Week Origins

Each Grand Marshal was presented a baton that was handed down and inscribed with each prior GM's name. It was retired to the library after the 12th GM however, the location of the baton is no longer known as 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 Grand Marshal 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, Aycrigg was given a high silk hat, which has been passed down and worn by all GMs since. Traditionally, the all-male student parade walked all the way to the Emma Willard School, to serenade the girls. In the early years of the celebrations, freshmen would wear white nightshirts in the parade while the upperclassmen tried to rip the shirts off 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 of class to Sophomores as the end of the spring semester was within reach.

The events of GM Week are planned and executed by the RPI Student Senate, with support from other student organizations on campus. The week usually kicks off with a ceremony in which the current Grand Marshal hands over the position to the next elected Grand Marshal. This ceremony is usually followed by a parade around the campus, which is attended by students, faculty, staff, and members of the community.

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

GM Week Today

Today, the GM Week committee, which serves under the Union Programming and Activities Committee 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, President of the Union, 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.