Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
[ ♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪ ]
♪
♪
[CHEERING]
WELCOME.
IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY
WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME
TO ADVISE YOU OF OUR
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND TO
POINT OUT THE LOCATION OF
THE EXITS.
YOU WILL BE INFORMED BY AN
ANNOUNCEMENT OR THE SOUNDING
OF THE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM IN
THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY
REQUIRING EVACUATION.
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY
WE ASK THAT YOU LEAVE IN A
CALM AND ORDERLY FASHION
THROUGH THE EXITS NEAREST
YOU WHICH ARE IDENTIFIED BY
EXIT SIGNS.
THANK YOU.
[ ♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪ ]
[ APPLAUSE ]
[ CHEERING ]
[ CLAPPING ]
[BAGPIPES]
[APPLAUSE]
>> DR. HAEFNER: HELLO,
TIGERS!
>> DR. HAEFNER: GOOD
AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
I AM DR. JEREMY HAEFNER,
RIT'S PROVOST AND SENIOR
VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC
AFFAIRS.
AND I'M SO HAPPY TO WELCOME
EVERYONE TO THIS CONVOCATION
FOR NEW STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY TO YOU,
OUR NEW STUDENTS, OUR GUESTS
OF HONOR.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
WE ARE TRULY DELIGHTED THAT
YOU HAVE CHOSEN RIT FOR YOUR
JOURNEY INTO HIGHER
EDUCATION.
WE HAVE CHOSEN TO BEGIN YOUR
JOURNEY WITH THIS FORMAL
CEREMONY, WHICH FEATURES
SEVERAL COMPONENTS OF A
VIBRANT ACADEMIC COMMUNITY,
SUCH AS THE ACADEMIC REGALIA,
OUR MACE AND A FORMAL
PROCESSION AND RECESSION,
JUST TO NAME A FEW.
AND WHAT A JOURNEY IT WILL BE,
FILLED WITH
FRIENDS AND FACULTY,
FRENETIC TIMES AND FOLLY, A
FANTASTIC FUN RIDE IN AN
INTELLECTUAL JOURNEY.
SO LET'S GET STARTED.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN STANDING
FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM LED
BY EIGHT BEAT MEASURE,
ONE OF OUR MANY STUDENT
MUSICAL GROUPS, AND
DEAF SIGN PERFORMERS
JAMAL JONES, TIMOTHY HOLMES,
AND NICHOLAS SHAW.
♪ OH, SAY CAN YOU SEE, BY
THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT ♪
♪ WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED
AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST
GLEAMING ♪
♪ WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND
BRIGHT STARS ♪
♪ THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT
♪ O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE
WATCHED WERE SO GALLANTLY
STREAMING ♪
♪ AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE
♪ THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR
♪ GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE
NIGHT ♪
♪ THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL
THERE ♪
♪ OH, SAY, DOES THAT
STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET
WAVE ♪
♪ O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE
♪ AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE
♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> PLEASE BE SEATED, THANKS
AGAIN TO THE MEMBERS OF
EIGHT BEAT MEASURE, JAMAL,
TIMOTHY AND NICHOLAS.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
OUR BAGPIPERS AND DRUMMERS -
LEX SLEEMAN, WHO DOUBLES
HERE AT RIT AS ASSOCIATE
DIRECTOR FOR NCAA COMPLIANCE
AND ELIGIBILITY AND A
WELLNESS INSTRUCTOR, AND HIS
COLLEAGUES - MEMBERS OF THE
GATES KEYSTONE CLUB POLICE
PIPES AND DRUMS.
LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A HEALTHY
ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> IT WOULD DIFFICULT NOT TO
NOTICE THE BOISTEROUS GROUP
OF PEOPLE GREETING STUDENTS
AS THEY ENTERED THE FIELD
HOUSE TODAY.
THEY ARE THE FACULTY AND
STAFF, MANY OF WHOM ARE ALSO
RIT ALUMS, WHO GATHERED TO
WELCOME YOU ALL AS THE
NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE RIT
FAMILY AND TO EXPRESS HOW
MUCH THEY LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU.
TO ALL THE PARTICIPANTS OF
THE TIGER WALK, THANK YOU
FOR THAT EXUBERANT WELCOME!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
RIT IS THE PROUD HOME OF THE
NATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
FOR THE DEAF, ONE OF ONLY
TWO INSTITUTES OF HIGHER
EDUCATION IN THE UNITED
STATES FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT FOR THE EDUCATION
OF DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING
STUDENTS.
NTID, AS IT IS KNOWN ON
CAMPUS, IS ONE OF OUR NINE
COLLEGES AND SUPPORTS MORE
THAN 1,500 STUDENTS WHO
UTILIZE THE OUTSTANDING
SERVICES OF OUR FACULTY,
PROFESSIONAL INTERPRETERS,
CAPTIONISTS, AND OTHER
STAFF.
WE APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT
THIS AND ALL CEREMONIES WILL
BE ENRICHED BOTH BY REALTIME
CAPTIONS AND BY THE PRESENCE
AND EXPERTISE OF OUR
PROFESSIONAL SIGN LANGUAGE
INTERPRETERS.
WE THANK THE INTERPRETERS
AND THE REAL-TIME CAPTIONIST
FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO
THEIR IMPORTANT WORK.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING
OUR INTERPRETERS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE
SPECIAL GUESTS AND MEMBERS
OF THE PLATFORM PARTY WHO
JOIN US TO CELEBRATE
YOUR ARRIVAL.
MEMBERS OF THE RIT BOARD OF
TRUSTEES PROVIDE THEIR
VISION AND EXPERTISE IN
LEADING RIT.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING
THEM FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN
BEING WITH US TODAY.
[APPLAUSE]
OUR ALUMNI ARE THE LIFEBLOOD
OF THE UNIVERSITY.
THEY ARE HERE TO HELP AND
SUPPORT YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR
JOURNEY AT RIT AND THEY LOOK
FORWARD TO YOU JOINING THEIR
RANKS WHEN YOU GRADUATE A
FEW YEARS FROM NOW.
LOMAX, WILL YOU PLEASE
STAND?
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING
LOMAX CAMPBELL, CLASS OF
1994, AND THANKING HIM AND
OUR OVER 110,000 ALUMNI
WORLDWIDE FOR THEIR CONSTANT
SUPPORT.
LOMAX, THANK YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
NEXT I ASK THAT DR. MICHAEL
LAVER, DR. RYNE RAFFAELLE,
AND MR. KEVIN MCDONALD TO
PLEASE STAND.
DR. LAVER, WHO LED THIS
AFTERNOON'S PROCESSION
CARRYING THE MACE, IS
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF
HISTORY IN THE COLLEGE OF
LIBERAL ARTS AND CHAIR OF
THE ACADEMIC SENATE; HE IS
HERE TODAY AS A REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE RIT FACULTY.
DR. RAFFAELLE IS VICE
PRESIDENT AND ASSOCIATE
PROVOST FOR RESEARCH; AND
MR. MCDONALD SERVES AS OUR
VICE PRESIDENT AND ASSOCIATE
PROVOST FOR DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSION.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US
IN THIS CELEBRATION!
[APPLAUSE]
NOW, I KNOW MANY PARENTS AND
OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET OUR
OUTSTANDING DEANS OR THEIR
REPRESENTATIVES IN COLLEGE
MEETINGS EARLIER TODAY.
I AM PROUD TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE
THEM TO YOU AGAIN AND FOR
THE FIRST TIME, TO OUR
STUDENTS.
STUDENTS, YOU DON'T
NECESSARILY WANT TO RUN INTO
THE DEAN, BUT AT LEAST YOU
SHOULD KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
DEANS, PLEASE STAND WHEN I
CALL YOUR NAME AND REMAIN
STANDING UNTIL ALL HAVE BEEN
INTRODUCED TO THE MEMBERS
OF THE AUDIENCE, AND PLEASE
HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL
THAT TIME.
DR. H. FRED WALKER, DEAN,
COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY;
DR. DT OGILVIE, DEAN, E.
PHILIP SAUNDERS COLLEGE OF
BUSINESS;
DR. ANDREW SEARS, DEAN, B.
THOMAS GOLISANO COLLEGE OF
COMPUTING AND INFORMATION
SCIENCES;
DR. HARVEY PALMER, DEAN,
KATE GLEASON COLLEGE OF
ENGINEERING;
DR. DANIEL ORNT, VICE
PRESIDENT OF THE INSTITUTE
OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND
TECHNOLOGY AND DEAN OF THE
COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES
AND TECHNOLOGY;
DR. TWYLA CUMMINGS, SENIOR
ASSOCIATE DEAN, COLLEGE OF
IMAGING ARTS AND SCIENCES;
PROFESSOR M. ANN HOWARD,
ASSOCIATE DEAN, COLLEGE OF
LIBERAL ARTS.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR MARY
BOYD, INTERIM DIRECTOR,
CENTER FOR MULTIDISCIPLINARY
STUDIES;
DR. GERARD BUCKLEY,
PRESIDENT, NATIONAL
TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR THE
DEAF AND VICE PRESIDENT AND
DEAN, RIT; AND
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
DR. SOPHIA MAGGELAKIS, DEAN,
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE.
LET'S ALL GIVE THEM AN RIT
ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
AS WE CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY
TOGETHER, YOU WILL COME TO
UNDERSTAND THAT WE TAKE OUR
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THE ACADEMIC, INTELLECTUAL,
PROFESSIONAL AND PHYSICAL
DEVELOPMENT OF YOU, THE
CLASS OF 2017 (AND 2018)
VERY SERIOUSLY. IN OTHER
WORDS, 'YOU ARE IN GOOD
HANDS.'
ACTUALLY, YOU HAVE ALREADY
BEEN IN GOOD HANDS THROUGH
THE AUSPICES OF OUR
CRACKERJACK ENROLLMENT
MANAGEMENT AND CAREER
SERVICES STAFF WHO WORKED
TIRELESSLY TO BRING YOU
ALL HERE - APPROXIMATELY
2800 OF YOU FIRST-YEAR
STUDENTS AND ABOUT 700
TRANSFER STUDENTS - FROM
EVERY STATE IN THE NATION
AND 43 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE.
THROUGH THEIR EFFORTS, YOU
BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY WITH
STUDENTS WHO, LIKE YOU, ARE
BRIGHT, AMBITIOUS AND EAGER
TO LEARN; EACH OF YOU WITH A
WEALTH OF EXPERIENCES AND
TALENT TO ENRICH OUR
COMMUNITY.
THE ENTIRE UNIVERSITY
APPRECIATES THE EFFORTS THAT
THE STAFF FROM ENROLLMENT
MANAGEMENT AND CAREER
SERVICES PUT FORTH IN
BRINGING THIS EXCEPTIONAL
CLASS TO RIT.
ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT AND
CAREER SERVICES, I THANK
YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
NOW, THE GREAT NEWS IS YOU
WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN GOOD
HANDS WITH THE STAFF OF
STUDENT AFFAIRS.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN
WELCOMING DR. HEATH
BOICE-PARDEE, INTERIM SENIOR
VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT
AFFAIRS.
HEATH?
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
GOOD AFTERNOON.
STUDENTS, FAMILY, STAFF,
FRIENDS,
AS DR. HAEFNER SAID I AM
DR. HEATH
BOICE-PARDEE AND I AM THE
INTERIM SENIOR VICE
PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT
AFFAIRS.
I REPRESENT OVER 200 STAFF
THAT IS HERE TO HELP YOU
NAVIGATE YOUR EXPERIENCE AT
RIT.
BEFORE I BEGIN MY FORMAL
COMMENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO
TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
THANK ALL THE STUDENT
LEADERS WHO MADE TODAY
POSSIBLE.
WITHOUT THESE UPPER-LEVEL
STUDENTS, THESE PAST FEW
DAYS WOULD NOT HAVE GONE AS
SMOOTHLY AS THEY DID.
THEY ARE OUR ORIENTATION
LEADERS; LEAD OA'S, RESIDENT
ADVISORS, AND OUR PAL'S FROM
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
SERVICES.
[CHEERING]
ALSO, OUR OAS FROM NTID'S
SUMMER VESTIBULE
PROGRAM.
ALL OF YOU PLEASE STAND,
IF YOU'RE NOT ALREADY,
AND BE RECOGNIZED.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO
RECOGNIZE THE ORIENTATION
STAFF
STAFF - SHAWNA LUSK, AMANDA
METZGER AND HANNAH FESSLER -
FOR THEIR TREMENDOUS EFFORTS
IN CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING
OUR ORIENTATION PROGRAM. I
KNOW YOU WILL AGREE THAT
THEY HAVE DONE AN
OUTSTANDING JOB.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
SO LET'S GET INTO IT.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE
RECEIVED A LOT OF
INFORMATION THIS WEEK - AND
I KNOW THAT IT CAN BE
OVERWHELMING.
BUT I WANT TO
LET YOU KNOW THAT WE IN
STUDENT AFFAIRS, ALONG WITH
OUR CAMPUS PARTNERS, ARE
HERE TO MAKE YOUR EXPERIENCE
AN EXCELLENT ONE.
BUT, IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR
EXPERIENCE AT RIT EXCELLENT
WE NEED YOUR HELP.
THIS STARTS WITH AN
ASSIGNMENT.
DON'T YOU LOVE THIS?
YOU HAVEN'T STARTED CLASSES
YET AND I'M GIVING YOU
HOMEWORK.
OKAY.
I KNOW, YOU'VE HAD A LOT ON
YOUR PLATES LATELY, AND
THAT'S LIKELY TO GET MORE
AND MORE, BUT ONE THING YOU
DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME IS THAT
I WILL NOT ASK YOU TO DO
SOMETHING THAT I WON'T DO
MYSELF.
SO WE'LL DO OUR HOMEWORK
TOGETHER.
HERE IS THE ASSIGNMENT:
GET ENGAGED.
ALL RIGHT.
I HEARD A FEW GASPS AND I
THINK I SAW A MOM FAINT, SO
RITA YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO UP
AND LOOK AT THAT.
NO, I ASSURE YOU IT'S NOT
WHAT YOU THINK.
I'M ASKING THAT EACH OF YOU
BECOME ENGAGED IN THE RIT
COMMUNITY.
RESEARCH IN HIGHER EDUCATION
SHOWS THAT STUDENTS WHO
BECOME ENGAGED IN THEIR
CAMPUS COMMUNITY ARE MORE
SUCCESSFUL, SATISFIED, AND
GRADUATE AT A HIGHER RATE
THAN THOSE WHO DO NOT.
AND I AM PROUD TO SHARE THAT
RIT IS A PERFECT PLACE TO
BECOME ENGAGED, BECAUSE LAST
YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
OUR HISTORY, STUDENT
SATISFACTION AT RIT EXCEEDED
THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
TO PUT THAT SIMPLY, STUDENTS
LIKE BEING HERE.
AND WHY WOULDN'T THEY?
LOOK AT ALL RIT HAS TO
OFFER:
[ ♪ MUSIC PLAYING ♪ ]
>> EXCITING, RIGHT?
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> OK NOW FOR THE HOMEWORK
THAT WE'RE GOING TO COMPLETE
TOGETHER.
THIS ASSIGNMENT WILL HELP IN
YOUR QUEST TO BECOME ENGAGED
AT RIT JUST LIKE THE FOLKS
ON THE VIDEO.
AND HERE IT IS.
I WANT YOU, AND I WILL TOO,
TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THREE NEW
OPPORTUNITIES THIS YEAR.
YOU MIGHT JOIN A CLUB,
PARTICIPATE IN AN
INTRAMURAL, OR TAKE A CLASS
ON A SUBJECT YOU'VE ALWAYS
DREAMED OF. OUR SG PRESIDENT
PAUL WILL GIVE YOU SOME MORE
IDEAS IN A MOMENT.
NOW MY PROMISE TO YOU IS
THAT I WILL ALSO DO THE
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT - WE'RE
IN THIS TOGETHER, RIGHT?
>> YES!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
IN FACT, I'M GOING TO ROLE
MODEL STEPPING OUT OF YOUR
COMFORT ZONE, AND TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES
AT RIT RIGHT NOW.
YOU SEE, WHEN I FIRST
ARRIVED ON-CAMPUS SEVEN
YEARS AGO, I IMMEDIATELY
BEGAN TO LEARN SIGN LANGUAGE
SO THAT I COULD COMMUNICATE
WITH OUR DEAF AND
HARD-OF-HEARING STUDENTS.
BUT I DON'T USE MY MINIMAL
SIGN LANGUAGE SKILLS AS MUCH
AS I SHOULD.
WHY?
BECAUSE LEARNING A NEW
LANGUAGE IS HARD.
WHAT IF I SIGN THE WRONG
WORD?
AND I HAVE SIGNED MANY WRONG
WORDS.
I'VE TOLD STUDENTS HAVE A
NICE DAY.
[LAUGHTER]
THEN I REALIZED THE SIGN FOR
"DAY" IS NOT WHAT I SIGNED,
"MORNING."
[LAUGHTER]
AND WHEN YOU LEARN SIGN
LANGUAGE, YOU'LL SIGN MANY
WRONG WORDS, TOO.
AND THAT'S OK.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
IT'S OKAY BECAUSE TAKING A
RISK IS
PART OF THIS HOMEWORK
ASSIGNMENT TO BECOME
ENGAGED. AND FOR ONCE
EFFORT COUNTS.
ENJOY YOUR EXPERIENCE.
PLEASE KEEP ME POSTED ON
YOUR PROGRESS, AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO HELPING YOU BE
SUCCESSFUL THIS YEAR.
THANK YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
AND NOW I HAVE THE PLEASURE
OF
INTRODUCING ONE OF THE KEY
INDIVIDUALS IN CREATING A
VIBRANT CAMPUS LIFE, YOUR
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
PRESIDENT, MR. PAUL DARRAGH.
PAUL?
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> PAUL DARRAGH: WHY IN THE
WORLD IS GROUNDBREAKING
PRINTED ON ALL OF YOUR
SHIRTS?
IT IS A CHALLENGE TO ALL OF
YOU TO GET INVOLVED AT RIT!
I ACCEPTED THIS CHALLENGE
TWO YEARS AGO AND IT IS THE
REASON WHY I AM STANDING UP
HERE TODAY.
BY THE WAY MY NAME IS PAUL
DARRAGH, OR TALL PAUL IF IT
HELPS.
I AM EXCITED TO BE THIS
YEAR'S STUDENT GOVERNMENT
PRESIDENT!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
A FEW YEARS AGO I SAT DOWN
THERE LISTENING TO A THEME
TITLED "DREAM BIG," BY A
STUDENT ROCKING THIS ORANGE
BLAZER THAT LOOKED
SO HIDEOUS THAT IT RESULTED
IN ME LEANING OVER TO THE
KID NEXT TO ME AND SAYING,
"DID HE LOSE A BET?"
WELL, I'M STANDING UP HERE
LETTING YOU KNOW
THAT IF I LOST THE SAME BET,
IT'S THE BEST BET THAT
I'VE EVER LOST.
WHY MIGHT YOU ASK?
I GOT INVOLVED, MADE
GREAT FRIENDS, AND NOW I GET
TO STAND UP HERE
AND LET YOU ALL KNOW
HOW TO GET INVOLVED.
ONE THING YOU PROBABLY WILL
NEVER HEAR AT RIT IS A STUDENT
WHO SAYS, "I AM SO BORED,
THERE IS NEVER ANYTHING
TO DO HERE."
WELL, YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.
IF ALL YOU DO IS GO TO CLASS
AND NEVER LEAVE YOUR ROOM
RIT IS A PRETTY BORING
PLACE.
THOUGH, IF YOU DARE TO ACCEPT MY
CHALLENGE,
YOU WILL SOON TURN AROUND TO
ANY STUDENT WHO DARES TO
UTTER THESE WORDS, AND SAY
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE IS
NOTHING TO DO HERE?
I CAN'T MAKE ENOUGH TIME
IN THE DAY TO DO EVERYTHING
I WANT TO DO!"
WELL, GUESS WHAT? THIS IS A
THREE-PART CHALLENGE I HAVE
FOR ALL OF YOU.
PART ONE, TRY PLAYING SOME
SPORT HERE!
WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM
DIVISION I HOCKEY TO
INTRAMURAL QUIDDITCH.
THAT'S RIGHT, I SAID
QUIDDITCH.
AND IT'S HARDER THAN YOU'D
THINK!
WE ALSO LOVE TO CHEER ON OUR
SPORTS TEAMS, FROM FRIENDS
SUPPORTING THEIR FLOOR
INTRAMURAL TEAM TO OUR
FUN, ROWDY CORNER CREW THAT
CHEERS ON OUR MEN'S AND WOMEN'S
HOCKEY TEAMS.
PART TWO, GO OUT TO THE GET
INVOLVED FAIR THIS SATURDAY
AND JOIN AT LEAST ONE
CLUB.
WE HAVE EVERYTHING TO OFFER,
FROM THE
ELECTRONIC GAMING SOCIETY TO
GREEK LIFE!
THOUGH IF YOU THINK WE'RE
MISSING SOMETHING,
AND YOU ARE JUST
A LITTLE BIT AMBITIOUS,
THEN YOU CAN EASILY CREATE
YOUR OWN!
PART THREE, GO TO AT LEAST
ONE CAMPUS EVENT EACH WEEK!
WE HAVE RESIDENTIAL LIFE
EVENTS HOSTED SO YOU CAN MEET
EVERYONE ON YOUR FLOOR, THE
COLLEGE ACTIVITIES BOARD
HOSTING MAJOR CONCERTS TO
WEEKLY MOVIE NIGHTS, AND
MANY OTHER CLUB AND
ORGANIZATION EVENTS THAT ARE
HAPPENING ALL THE TIME!
SPEAKING OF THAT, WE HAVE
ONE THAT EVERYONE GETS
INVOLVED IN, WHETHER
THEY WANT TO OR NOT,
WHICH IS CALLED
HUMANS VS. ZOMBIES.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A GIANT
WEEK-LONG GAME OF TAG
PLAYED WITH NERF GUNS,
FLYING SOCKS, AND THE
OCCASIONAL KID JUMPING OUT
OF A TREE OR BUSH.
[LAUGHTER]
NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO THAT
WEEK YOU WILL BE DODGING
BULLETS
LAUGHING AS STUDENTS ARE
CHASED AROUND CAMPUS
AND JUST WONDERING
WHOEVER CAME UP WITH SUCH A
GREAT GAME.
NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO,
DESPITE THE ABSURDITY AND
SURPRISES AT RIT
YOU'LL FIND
THAT YOU ARE DRAWN TO
PARTICULAR EVENTS,
ACTIVITIES AND FRIENDS.
JUMP INTO THOSE, AND IF
YOU'RE EVER HAVING TROUBLE
FINDING THOSE,
LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM,
AT ALL OF THE STUDENT
LEADERS HERE NOW.
YOUR BIGGEST SUPPORTERS
ARE HERE IN
THE FORM OF RESIDENT
ADVISORS AND ORIENTATION
ASSISTANTS.
THEY ARE WAITING TO HELP AND
ARE EAGER TO GUIDE YOU AS
YOU NAVIGATE THE TRAILS OF
RIT.
ALL OF THEM CAN VOUCH THAT
AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER,
THEY WERE IN YOUR SHOES,
AND THAT IT MIGHT NOT SEEM
IT, BUT YOU ARE THE NEW
STUDENT LEADERS ON CAMPUS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
I PROMISE THAT BY THE END OF
THIS YEAR EACH ONE OF YOU
WILL HAVE LEFT A MARK ON
CAMPUS.
SO COME IMPRESS US WITH
YOUR TALENT, PASSION AND
VISION FOR YOUR PERFECT
RIT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
RIT!
RIT!
RIT!
RIT!
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
IF YOU REMEMBER ONE THING
FROM MY SPEECH, KEEP YOUR
DOOR OPEN, TALK AND SIGN
WITH EVERYONE, AND IF
SOMETHING LOOKS FUN, IT
PROBABLY IS.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO TALK TO
ANYONE IN A LEADERSHIP
POSITION, FROM YOUR RESIDENT
ADVISER TO DR. DESTLER HIMSELF.
WE MIGHT ROAR, OCCASIONALLY,
BUT WE NEVER BITE.
HAVE A NICE DAY, GUYS!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> DR. HAEFNER: THANK YOU,
PAUL, TALL PAUL, APPROPRIATE
INDEED.
AND I DO LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU AS YOU
BEGIN YOUR TENURE AS STUDENT
GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT.
AS PAUL SAID, THERE ARE
SCORES OF OPPORTUNITIES
AVAILABLE TO YOU AT RIT.
THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY,
HOWEVER, AHEAD FOR YOU IS
THE TEACHING AND LEARNING
THAT IS RIT'S HALLMARK.
RIT IS BLESSED WITH AN
OUTSTANDING FACULTY
DEDICATED AND COMMITTED TO
HELP YOU TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE
OF THAT OPPORTUNITY BY
MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE
THE EDUCATION -- THAT THE
EDUCATION YOU RECEIVE IS
RIGOROUS, CUTTING-EDGE,
PERSONAL, RELEVANT, AND
SECOND TO NO OTHER
UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE.
ALSO DEDICATED TO MAKING
SURE THAT YOU ARE IN GOOD
HANDS, THE FACULTY CARE
DEEPLY ABOUT YOU AND YOUR
INTELLECTUAL GROWTH.
THEY WILL CHALLENGE YOU
ACADEMICALLY TO MAKE SURE
THAT THAT GROWTH OCCURS.
YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION, AND
THAT OBLIGATION IS TO ACCEPT
THIS CHALLENGE, TO BE
ENGAGED, AS HE MENTIONED
EARLIER, AND, IN FACT, TO
CHALLENGE THEM AS WELL.
BUT PLEASE DO SO
RESPECTFULLY AND THOUGHT
FULLY BECAUSE THAT IS HOW
THEY WILL TREAT YOU.
SO WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM
YOUR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY?
HERE TO HELP ANSWER THIS
QUESTION IS DR. TODD PAGANO,
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND
DIRECTOR OF THE LABORATORY
SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AT THE
NATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
FOR THE DEAF.
LAST SPRING TODD WAS AWARDED
THE EXCELLENCE IN FACULTY
MENTORING AWARD AND HE IS
THE FIRST RIT FACULTY MEMBER
TO RECEIVE THE U.S.
PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
FROM THE COUNCIL FOR THE
ADVANCEMENT AND SUPPORT OF
EDUCATION AND THE CARNEGIE
FOUNDATION FOR THE
ADVANCEMENT OF TEACHING.
LET ME REPEAT THAT.
HE'S THE FIRST RIT FACULTY
MEMBER TO BE NAMED A U.S.
PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING
DR. TODD PAGANO.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> DR. PAGANO: STUDENTS,
PARENTS, FACULTY, AND
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, PLEASE
ALLOW ME TO ADD MY WORDS OF
WELCOME TO RIT.
I'M GOING TO NEED TO USE MY
HANDS TO ATTEMPT TO DO SOME
CHEMISTRY FOR YOU ALL TODAY,
SO I'M GOING TO TURN OVER
THE SIGNING TO THE SKILLED
INTERPRETERS FOR THE REST OF
MY PRESENTATION.
[APPLAUSE]
STUDENTS, YOU AND I CAN
RELATE.
AND PARENTS, I'M CERTAINLY
NOT OVERLOOKING THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF YOUR
ATTENDANCE HERE TODAY, BUT
IF I MAY, I'D LIKE TO TAILOR
MY WORDS TO YOUR STUDENTS.
STUDENTS, I CAN RELATE TO
EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
IF ON NO OTHER LEVEL, I ONCE
SAT WHERE YOU ALL DO TODAY,
WELL, NOT RIGHT HERE, AND
NOT ON THIS BEAUTIFUL
CAMPUS.
WE CAN'T ALL BE THE PROUD
ALUMS OF RIT BUT I ONCE
HAD MY OWN WELCOMING
CONVOCATION, AND TRUTHFULLY
I DO NOT RECALL THE MESSAGE
OF THE CONVOCATION SPEAKER
ON THAT DAY.
QUITE FRANKLY WHEN I'M DONE
TODAY YOU MAY NOT EITHER.
BUT I AM CERTAIN, I AM
CERTAIN, THAT ON THAT DAY
YEARS AGO I COULDN'T HAVE
REMOTELY CONSIDERED THE
THINGS THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED
IN MY CAREER, EVEN IN THIS
PAST YEAR, BEING NAMED A
FELLOW OF THE AMERICAN
CHEMICAL SOCIETY, RECEIVING
THE U.S. PROFESSOR OF THE
YEAR HONOR TRAVELING TO
CAPITOL HILL TO SPREAD THE
WORD ABOUT DEAF AND HARD OF
HEARING LEARNERS TO OUR
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THESE
THINGS WERE NOWHERE ON MY
RADAR WHEN I SAT WHERE YOU
ALL SIT TODAY.
THE POINT THAT I'M TRYING TO
ELUCIDATE, AND I KNOW THAT
IT'S CLICHE, IS THAT COLLEGE
OPENS DOORS, OPPORTUNITIES
THAT YOU LIKELY ARE NOT EVEN
IMAGINING TODAY.
I'M ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED OF
THAT, BUT I AM ALSO
CONVINCED THAT YOUR SUCCESS
WILL REQUIRE SOME WORK ON
YOUR PART.
NOW, IN AN ATTEMPT TO GIVE
MY MESSAGE TODAY A FIGHTING
CHANCE TO BE REMEMBERED, EVEN IF
BY JUST A FRACTION OF YOU, I
WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT
CHEMISTRY, AND I JUST
REALIZED AS IT CAME OUT OF
MY MOUTH HOW SILLY THAT
SEEMS TO TRY TO TALK -- KEEP
YOUR ATTENTION AND TALK
ABOUT CHEMISTRY.
BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE IT A
TRY, AND JUST BECAUSE I'M
GOING TO USE A CHEMISTRY
ANALOGY, IT DOESN'T MEAN
THAT STUDENTS IN NONSCIENCE
MAJORS CAN JUST TUNE OUT.
SO PLEASE STAY WITH ME FOR A
MINUTE.
SO I PREPARED A
DEMONSTRATION THAT I HOPE
WILL HELP TO CONVEY MY
MESSAGE TODAY.
WHEN I COMBINE THESE TWO --
CAN THE CAMERA SEE?
WHEN I COMBINE THESE TWO
SEEMINGLY CLEAR CHEMICALS
INTO THIS BEAKER, FLASK,
RATHER,
-- I KNOW YOU'RE
FULL OF ANTICIPATION, AND I
DON'T WANT TO LET YOU DOWN.
IF YOU MIX THOSE TWO
CHEMICALS, AND, WELL,
NOTHING HAPPENS.
BUT THAT'S OKAY.
WE CAN ALL OBSERVE THAT I
POURED THE TWO CHEMICALS IN
THERE, AND EVEN THOUGH THE
CHEMICALS ARE IN THIS FLASK
TOGETHER, A NOTICEABLE
REACTION JUST DID NOT
HAPPEN.
SOMETIMES WITH CHEMICAL
REACTIONS, AN ENERGETIC
ACTIVATION BARRIER IS
PRESENT THAT PROHIBITS THE
REACTION FROM TAKING PLACE.
THIS BARRIER MUST BE
OVERCOME BY THE ADDITION OF
SOME KIND OF ENERGY, OR A
CATALYST, BEFORE THE
REACTION CAN OCCUR.
NOW, IF I HAVE MADE THESE
SOLUTIONS PROPERLY, AND WITH
ALL THE EYES ON ME RIGHT
NOW, I SURE HOPE THAT I DID,
WHEN I ADD THIS THIRD
SEEMINGLY CLEAR CHEMICAL,
ONE THAT ACTS AS A CATALYST
TO OVERCOME THE ACTIVATION
BARRIER, A REACTION SHOULD
TAKE PLACE.
OH, IT'S NOT DONE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
NOT DONE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
I'M GLAD YOU ENJOYED IT, AND
GETTING THE FOCUS BACK ON ME
AFTER A CLASS DEMONSTRATION,
AND I TRY TO DO A
DEMONSTRATION IN EVERY
SINGLE CLASS THAT I TEACH,
IT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE, AND
I HAVE FOUND, IN FACT, THAT
TRYING TO COMPETE WITH THE
WONDERS OF SCIENCE IS
ULTIMATELY FUTILE, AND THAT
JUST KEEPS GOING.
BUT IF I CAN WIN BACK YOUR
ATTENTION FOR A MOMENT AS I
ATTEMPT TO PARALLEL THIS
DEMONSTRATION I RECENTLY
PERFORMED TO THE COLLEGE
PATHS THAT YOU ALL HAVE IN
FRONT OF YOU.
WHAT WOULD I LIKE YOU TO
TAKE HOME FROM THIS
DEMONSTRATION?
WELL, THERE IS AN INEVITABLE
ACTIVATION BARRIER STANDING
BETWEEN WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT
NOW AND ULTIMATELY THE GREAT
THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN
DURING YOUR TIME AT RIT AND
BEYOND.
YOU KNOW, I URGE YOU, I
PLEAD WITH YOU, TO PUT IN
THE ENERGY TO OVERCOME THIS
BARRIER.
THE PROCESS OF OVERCOMING
THE ACTIVATION BARRIER IS A
CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE
SHARED MISSION OF STUDENT
SUCCESS.
I THROW THAT TERM AROUND ALL
THE TIME, THE SHARED MISSION
OF STUDENT SUCCESS, BECAUSE
FOR MY MONEY, IT IS THE ONLY
WAY TO LEARN.
YOU SEE, THE SUCCESSFUL
OUTCOME OF YOUR EDUCATION IS
NOT AS DEPENDENT ON YOUR
PROFESSORS AS YOU MIGHT
THINK, THOUGH THEIR ROLE, OF
COURSE, IS ALSO CRITICAL.
NO, IT IS A SHARED MISSION
BETWEEN YOU, AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY YOU, YOUR
CLASSMATES AND THE
FACULTY/STAFF OF RIT.
IF YOU DO NOT PUT IN THE
ACTIVATION ENERGY, THEN YOU
ARE NOT FULLY ADDING YOUR
PART TO THE SHARED MISSION,
AND YOU MISS -- YOU RISK
MISSING A REACTION, AN
OPPORTUNITY THAT COULD
CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
LIFE-CHANGING
ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAPPEN TO
STUDENTS HERE AT RIT
ALL THE TIME.
YOUR WORK CAN BE INCLUDED IN
SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS, YOU
CAN RECEIVE AWARDS AND
SCHOLARSHIPS, YOU CAN TRAVEL
THE WORLD, MAKING
PRESENTATIONS AT SYMPOSIUM,
AND YOU CAN FIND GREAT
CO-OPS THAT CAN LEAD TO
SUCCESSFUL CAREERS.
BUT IF I MAY, HERE'S AN
EXAMPLE OF FALLING SHORT OF
THE ACTIVATION BARRIER.
SAY YOU GO TO CLASS, LISTEN
TO THE INSTRUCTOR, GO BACK
TO YOUR DORM ROOM, MAYBE
COMPLETE SOME OF THE
ASSIGNMENTS, AND PERPETUALLY
DO THE SAME THING FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE SEMESTER.
IN SUCH A CASE YOU MIGHT NOT
HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED, BUT
THE REACTION PATHWAY TOWARD
THE SHARED MISSION OF YOUR
ULTIMATE EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS
LIKELY HASN'T OVERCOME THE
ACTIVATION BARRIER STANDING
IN THE WAY OF TAKING YOUR
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO
THE NEXT LEVEL.
SO, WHERE DO YOU FIND THIS
EXTRA ENERGY OR CATALYST?
WELL, IT'S LIKELY NOT
CREATED BY SPENDING MORE
TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA
OUTLETS, WHICH IS PROBABLY
AN UNFAIR JAB FOR A
NON-FACEBOOK USER SUCH AS
MYSELF, BUT IT IS ALSO NOT
FOUND WHILE OBSESSING OVER A
FANTASY FOOTBALL TRADE,
SOMETHING FOR WHICH I AM
GUILTY AS WE SPEAK.
IN MY OWN LIFE AS A STUDENT
AND IN MY 11 YEARS OF
TEACHING AT RIT/NTID, I
FOUND THERE TO BE A NUMBER
OF CATALYSTS TO HELP THE
STUDENTS ALONG THE PATH
TOWARD STUDENT SUCCESS.
TO NAME A FEW:
KEEP AN OPEN MIND, BE OPEN
TO NEW IDEAS, SUBJECTS AND
EXPERIENCES.
WORK WITH THE FACULTY.
GREAT THINGS HAPPEN FOR
STUDENTS WHO COLLABORATE
WITH MEMBERS OF THE RIT FACULTY.
THEY JUST DO.
GET TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSORS.
SEE AND EMULATE THEIR
PASSION FOR TEACHING AND
LEARNING.
JOIN THEM IN THEIR RESEARCH
PROJECTS.
DEVELOP A GROUP OF TRUSTED
FRIENDS WHO SHARE YOUR
PASSION.
GET INVOLVED IN THE RIT
COMMUNITY.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL OF THE
OPPORTUNITIES ON THIS
WONDERFUL CAMPUS: A UNIQUE
CAMPUS WHERE DEAF, HARD OF
HEARING AND HEARING STUDENTS
LIVE, STUDY AND WORK
TOGETHER.
AND DON'T SIT BACK.
LEAN IN AND FIND YOUR PLACE
AT RIT, AND THEN, IN THE
WORLD.
YOU ARE ALL HERE BECAUSE YOU
HAVE FELT THAT "FIT."
SOMETHING INTRIGUED YOU
ENOUGH, CHALLENGED YOU
ENOUGH, ENGAGED YOU ENOUGH
TO MAKE RIT YOUR COLLEGE OF
CHOICE.
AND BY ALL MEANS YOU MADE A
GREAT CHOICE.
YOU HAVE ALREADY BROUGHT
WITH YOU THE INTELLIGENCE,
CURIOSITY AND ACADEMIC
PREPARATION REQUIRED TO
SUCCEED.
NOW THAT YOU ARE HERE USE
THOSE TOOLS FOR YOUR
STUDIES, BUT FIND YOUR
CATALYST AND OVERCOME THE
ACTIVATION BARRIER STANDING
BETWEEN YOU AND GREAT THINGS
IN YOUR FUTURE.
REACH OUT, CONNECT, AND
COLLABORATE WITH FACULTY AND
STAFF.
LINK MINDS WITH THEM INSIDE
AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM.
SHARE THOUGHTS.
SHARE THE MISSION OF YOUR
EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS!
SO WELCOME, STUDENTS,
WELCOME TO RIT.
IN FACT, WELCOME TO YOUR OWN
NEW EXPERIMENT.
GOOD LUCK.
WORK HARD.
HAVE FUN.
AND PLEASE, PLEASE, BE THAT
CATALYST UNTO YOURSELVES AND
FIND YOUR OWN ACTIVATION
ENERGY THAT WILL MAKE GREAT
THINGS HAPPEN FOR YOU AT RIT
AND BEYOND.
THANK YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY
FABULOUS.
NEXT TIME YOU DO THAT
EXPERIMENT, HOWEVER, COULD
YOU DO ORANGE AND BROWN AS
THE COLORS?
[LAUGHTER]
I DO WANT TO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
YOU'VE GIVEN US LOTS TO
THINK ABOUT AS WE ALL START
THIS NEW JOURNEY TOGETHER
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR NOT BLOWING UP THE STAGE
PARTY AS WELL.
THAT WAS IMPORTANT.
SO TO FURTHER DR. PAGANO'S
POINT ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS
THAT CAN HAPPEN BETWEEN
FACULTY AND STUDENTS, WE
HAVE DEVELOPED A SERIES OF
SHORT VIDEOS FOCUSED ON THE
AMAZING RELATIONSHIPS THAT
HAVE DEVELOPED BETWEEN
FACULTY AND STUDENTS AND I'M
NOW PLEASED AND PROUD TO
SHARE WITH YOU TODAY THE
LATEST IN THE SERIES.
PLEASE ENJOY THE FOLLOWING
VIDEO.
[APPLAUSE]
>> DID YOU LIKE THAT?
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I WANT TO THANK PRODUCER
JOE BELLAVIA
AND HIS TALENTED
STUDENT WORKERS, AND THE
STAFF AT RIT PRODUCTION
SERVICES IN THE WALLACE
CENTER FOR CREATING THIS
VIDEO, WHICH IS PART OF A
LARGER SERIES OF VIDEOS
FEATURING FACULTY AND
STUDENTS FROM THE OTHER
COLLEGES.
THE ENTIRE SERIES CAN BE
FOUND ON THE PROVOST'S
WEBSITE.
IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE
TO INTRODUCE RIT'S
PRESIDENT, DR. WILLIAM W.
DESTLER.
HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY OUR
STUDENT ORIENTATION
COORDINATORS ETHAN AUSBURN,
LAUREN BELL, TYKEMIA
BOATWRIGHT, AND TANNER
NEWCOMB, WHO WILL LET YOU
KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT AND
THEN CLOSE THIS CONVOCATION.
HE'S AN INTERNATIONALLY
RENOWNED PHYSICIST.
HIS NAME IS BANJO BILL.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
HE'S THE ONE THAT HIGH FIVED
2,500 NEW FRESHMEN THIS YEAR
OUT ON THE TIGER WALK.
PLEASE GIVE A WARM WELCOME
FOR DR. BILL DESTLER.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> DR. DESTLER: I THINK HE
WANTED SOMETHING FROM ME.
I WILL NOT SIGN THIS SPEECH
TODAY, BUT I WILL SIGN MY
SPEECH ON YOUR GRADUATION.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
AND I'M KIND OF THIRSTY,
ACTUALLY.
IS THIS STUFF DRINKABLE?
[LAUGHTER]
IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE
THAT I WELCOME ALL STUDENTS,
BOTH NEW AND RETURNING, TO
RIT.
IT IS ALSO MY PLEASURE TO
WELCOME ALL OF THE PARENTS
AND FRIENDS OF OUR STUDENTS
WHO ARE HERE TO WISH THEM
LUCK ON THIS EXCITING
EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY.
ONLY SIX YEARS AGO I WAS A
FIRST-YEAR TIGER MYSELF, AND
I WAS AS EXCITED TO BEGIN
THE ACADEMIC YEAR AS ANY
FRESHMAN MIGHT BE.
AND LIKE ALL OF YOU, I WAS
LOOKING FORWARD TO IMMERSING
MYSELF IN THIS EXTRAORDINARY
CAMPUS
AND LEARNING ALL ABOUT
WHAT RIT HAS TO OFFER.
WHAT I HAVE FOUND IN MY
FIRST SIX YEARS HERE IS THAT
RIT IS TRULY A "CATEGORY OF
ONE" UNIVERSITY.
WHERE ELSE CAN YOU FIND
STUDENTS ON THE SAME CAMPUS
STUDYING MEDICAL PHOTOGRAPHY
AND ENGINEERING?
WHERE ELSE CAN YOU FIND
STUDENTS WHO ARE STUDYING
BUSINESS AND FURNITURE
DESIGN WORKING SIDE-BY-SIDE?
WHERE ELSE CAN YOU FIND DEAF
STUDENTS AND HEARING
STUDENTS WORKING TOGETHER ON
TEAM PROJECTS?
IT IS THIS UNUSUAL
COMBINATION OF
RIGHT-BRAINERS AND
LEFT-BRAINERS WORKING
TOGETHER THAT MAKE RIT A
SPECIAL PLACE, AND IT IS THE
PRESENCE ON OUR CAMPUS OF
THE NATIONAL TECHNICAL
INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF THAT
MAKES RIT ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE.
THIS KIND OF INTELLECTUAL
AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY IS
AVAILABLE ONLY AT RIT, AND
IT PROVIDES AN EXTRAORDINARY
OUTSIDE-THE-CLASSROOM
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO
ALL STUDENTS.
HOW MUCH YOU BENEFIT FROM
IT, OF COURSE, IS REALLY UP TO
YOU.
I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO
FIRST FIND YOUR FOOTING IN
YOUR ACADEMIC STUDIES, AND
THEN BRANCH OUT INTO THE
VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR
CAMPUS ENGAGEMENT THAT ARE
AVAILABLE TO YOU.
IT IS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
GROW INTELLECTUALLY IN AREAS
INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF YOUR
MAJOR THAT CAN MAKE AN RIT
EXPERIENCE SO SPECIAL.
NOW WE IN ACADEMIA HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS
EXAMPLES OF HOW TO ENGAGE IN
CIVIL DISCOURSE IN WHAT I'M
AFRAID HAS BECOME AN INCREASINGLY
POLARIZED NATION.
MANY OF US ARE DISMAYED AT
THE EXTENT TO WHICH
INTELLIGENT DISCUSSIONS ON
COMPLEX ISSUES CAN SEEMINGLY
NO LONGER BE HELD WITHOUT
THE KIND OF HYSTERICAL
ACRIMONY THAT ONLY SERVES TO
HARDEN POSITIONS AND MAKE
COMPROMISE IMPOSSIBLE.
LET US ALL REMEMBER THAT
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES,
OF ALL ORGANIZATIONS, MUST
REMAIN FORUMS FOR OPEN AND
RESPECTED DISCUSSION OF
CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES.
FROM ALL SIDES.
WE ARE ALL PART --
[APPLAUSE]
WE ARE ALL PART OF A
LEARNING COMMUNITY, AND MUCH
OF OUR LEARNING COMES FROM
EACH OTHER.
RESPECT FOR THE OPINIONS OF
OTHERS, EVEN WHEN WE
STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THEM,
MUST BE A CORNERSTONE OF OUR
CAMPUS COMMUNITY.
ONE CAUTIONARY NOTE,
HOWEVER.
THE UNITED STATES IS A
WONDERFUL COUNTRY AND ONE OF
THE BEST THINGS ABOUT THIS
NATION IS THE EXTENT TO
WHICH IF YOU FAIL YOU CAN
START OVER AGAIN.
BUT REGAINING YOUR PERSONAL
REPUTATION FOR HONESTY AND
INTEGRITY, HOWEVER, IS NOT
SO EASY.
SO AVOID THE TEMPTATION TO
CHEAT OR PLAGIARIZE OTHERS'
WORK AS YOU PURSUE YOUR
STUDIES.
THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE YOU
BEGIN TO BUILD YOUR
REPUTATION FOR HONESTY AND
PERSONAL INTEGRITY THAT YOU
WILL CARRY FOR THE REST OF
YOUR LIVES.
YOU WILL HAVE OTHER
IMPORTANT DECISIONS TO MAKE
AS WELL.
NOW THAT YOU ARE ON YOUR
OWN, YOUR CHOICES AS TO YOUR
USE OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS
WILL BE AMONG THEM, AND I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO STEER AWAY
FROM ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES OF
ANY KIND.
YOU WILL ALSO BE IN A
POSITION TO OBSERVE FRIENDS
WHO MAY STRUGGLE WITH
DEPRESSION OR SHOW WORRISOME
CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR, AND I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTACT
YOUR RESIDENT ASSISTANT OR
THE RIT COUNSELING CENTER IN
SUCH CASES.
WE ARE ALL MEMBERS OF THE
RIT FAMILY, AND WE ALL NEED
TO WORK TOGETHER IF OUR
COMMUNITY IS TO FLOURISH AS
A COMMUNITY OF LEARNING AND
OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US.
THE FACULTY AND STAFF AT RIT
ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU
AND ENCOURAGE YOU ON
THIS JOURNEY, AND I
ASK YOU TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF ALL THAT
THEY HAVE TO OFFER.
ALSO, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO
CONTACT ME,
BILL.DESTLER@RIT
SHOULD YOU FEEL
THAT THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE
MAY SERVE YOU BETTER,
AND YOU WON'T BE THE FIRST
TO DO SO.
I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO
WATCHING YOUR PROGRESS AND
CELEBRATING YOUR
ACHIEVEMENTS.
AND FINALLY, GO TIGERS!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> HELLO.
HI.
I'M TANNER NEWCOMB
AND I'M FROM GENEVA, NY.
PARENTS AND FAMILIES, THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE TO
SUPPORT YOUR STUDENT.
WE WERE ONCE IN THEIR SHOES
AND USED OUR EXPERIENCE TO
PLAN WHAT WE HOPE IS AN
AWESOME WELCOME!
TO RIT.
EACH OF YOU SHOULD HAVE
RECEIVED OUR FAMILY HANDBOOK
AND CALENDAR WHEN YOU
CHECKED IN, BE SURE TO USE
IT AS A RESOURCE THROUGHOUT
THIS UPCOMING YEAR.
>> HELLO, I'M LAUREN BELL
AND I'M FROM MASSENA, NY.
OUR STUDENT PROGRAM, WHICH
BEGAN THIS MORNING AND
CONTINUES THROUGH SATURDAY, IS
FILLED WITH PRESENTATIONS
AND EVENTS TO ASSIST
STUDENTS IN THEIR ACADEMIC
AND SOCIAL TRANSITION TO THE
RIT COMMUNITY.
THE PROGRAMS INCLUDE
ACADEMIC ADVISING AND
ACADEMIC DAY; COLLEGE LIFE
101; LIVING AND LEARNING
TOGETHER-WE ARE RIT!
LET'S TALK ABOUT IT, A
PICNIC AND CARNIVAL FOR ALL
NEW STUDENTS, LIGHTING THE
WAY, A WELCOMING STUDENT FOR
RIT WOMEN, A CLUB AND
ORGANIZATION FAIR, AND SHUTTLES
TO THE SHOPPING AREAS.
ORIENTATION ACTIVITIES ALSO INCLUDE
FREE ENTERTAINMENT
EACH NIGHT AND CONCLUDE WITH
A *** ON SUNDAY EVENING
WITH THE FIREWORKS DISPLAY.
ALL THESE ACTIVITIES WILL
ENABLE YOUR STUDENT TO
MEET AND CONNECT WITH NEW
AND RETURNING STUDENTS AND
PREPARE THEM TO START
CLASSES ON MONDAY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> HELLO, I'M TYE BOATWRIGHT
AND I'M FROM SYRACUSE, NEW
YORK.
THROUGHOUT ORIENTATION,
STUDENTS WILL BE IN SMALL
GROUPS AND LED BY AN
ORIENTATION ASSISTANT, WHO
THEY MET THIS MORNING AND
SPENT THE DAY WITH.
SELECTED THROUGH A HIGHLY
COMPETITIVE PROCESS, THE
ORIENTATION ASSISTANTS ARE
WELL-TRAINED, UPPER-CLASS
STUDENTS WHOSE PRIMARY
RESPONSIBILITIES ARE TO
ASSIST NEW STUDENTS IN THEIR
ADJUSTMENT TO RIT.
[APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> HELLO, I'M ETHAN AUSBURN
AND I'M FROM LIVERPOOL, NY.
WHEN YOU RETURN HOME, PLEASE
TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO
COMPLETE OUR ON-LINE FAMILY
PROGRAM EVALUATION.
YOUR FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT
TO FUTURE ORIENTATION
PROGRAMS.
AGAIN, WELCOME!
WE ARE GLAD YOU'RE HERE!
TO CONCLUDE THE
CONVOCATION FOR NEW STUDENTS
AND FAMILIES, PLEASE STAND
FOR THE RIT ALMA MATER, AS
PRINTED ON THE INSIDE COVER
OF YOUR PROGRAM AND LED BY
EIGHT BEAT MEASURE AND DEAF
SIGN PERFORMERS JAMAL JONES,
TIMOTHY HOLMES, AND NICHOLAS
SHAW.
AFTER THE ALMA MATER, THE
PLATFORM PARTY WILL RECESS
DOWN THE CENTER AISLES.
PLEASE REMAIN SEATED UNTIL
THEY HAVE REACHED THE BACK
OF THE FACILITY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING
US HERE TODAY!
[APPLAUSE]
[ ♪ SINGING ♪ ]
HAIL, RIT!
TOGETHER STAND;
CREATING GOOD WITH MIND AND
HAND;
♪ INSPIRED TO LEARN TILL
LIFE ♪
♪ IS DONE ♪
AS TEACHERS, LEARNERS, ALL
ARE ONE!
♪ WITH PRIDE IN OUR
DIVERSITY ♪
♪ A SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY ♪
♪ WE ARE THE MEN, THE WOMEN
♪ OF THE FUTURE HERE AT RIT!
♪ FROM RIT, OUR COURSE IS
SET ♪
♪ WE CELEBRATE A PROMISE
KEPT ♪
♪ A LIFE, A LIVING YOU HAVE
TAUGHT ♪
♪ LET NEW HORIZONS NOW BE
SOUGHT.
♪
[APPLAUSE]
[BAGPIPES]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]