Rochester Institute of Technology's 2015 Freshman Convocation

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [SINGING] >> DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HISTORY. DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT BIOLOGY. DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT SCIENCE BOOKS. DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE FRENCH I TOOK. BUT I DO KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU, AND I KNOW THAT IF YOU LOVE ME TOO, WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD THIS COULD BE. DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT GEOGRAPHY. DON'T KNOW MUCH TRIGONOMETRY. DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT ALGEBRA. DON'T KNOW WHAT A SLIDE RULE IS FOR. BUT I DO KNOW ONE AND ONE IS TWO. AND IF THIS ONE COULD BE WITH YOU, WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD THIS COULD BE. NOW I DON'T CLAIM TO BE AN A STUDENT, BUT I'M TRYING TO BE. MAYBE BY BEING AN A STUDENT, BABY, I CAN WIN YOUR HEART FOR ME. DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HISTORY. DON'T KNOW MUCH BIOLOGY. DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT SCIENCE BOOKS. DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE FRENCH I TOOK. BUT I DO KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU. AND I KNOW THAT IF YOU LOVE ME TOO WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD THIS COULD BE. >> ONE MORE TIME! >> BUT I KNOW THAT ONE AND ONE IS TWO. AND IF THIS ONE COULD BE WITH YOU, WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD THIS COULD BE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [SINGING] >> I'M DOWN ON MY KNEES. I'M BEGGING YOU TO COME HOME. >> YOU'RE BREAKING MY HEART. CECELIA, I'M DOWN ON MY KNEES. I'M BEGGING YOU PLEASE TO COME HOME. MAKING LOVE, MAKING LOVE, MAKING LOVE, MAKING LOVE, MAKING LOVE. LOVE MAKING, LOVE MAKING, LOVE MAKING. LOVE. YOU'RE BREAKING MY HEART. OH CECELIA, I'M DOWN ON MY KNEES. I'M BEGGING YOU PLEASE TO COME HOME. >> ONE, TWO, THREE. >> JUBILATION. SHE LOVES ME AGAIN. I FALL ON THE FLOOR AND I'M LAUGHING. JUBILATION. SHE LOVES ME AGAIN. I FALL ON THE FLOOR AND I'M LAUGHING. >> EVERYBODY! [CLAPPING] [SINGING] >> COME ON HOME! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [SINGING] >> GOOD-BYE MY CONEY ISLAND BABY. >> WE ALL FALL FOR SOME GIRL THAT DRESSES NEAT. SOME GIRL THAT'S GOT BIG FEET. WE MEET HER ON THE STREET. THEN WE'LL JOIN ARMY OF MARRIED TO THE ALTER. >> JUST LIKE LEADING LAMS TO SLAUGHTER. >> DON'T FORGET TO WASH THE DISHES. >> WHEN IT'S OVER, OH BOY WE GET IT GOOD BACHELOR DAYS WHEN WE RECALL. GOOD-BYE MY CONEY ISLAND BABY. FAIR WELL MY ONE TRUE LOVE. I'M GONNA GO AWAY AND LEAVE YOU. NEVER TO SEE YOU. I'M GONNA SAIL UPON THAT FERRY BOAT. NEVER TO RETURN AGAIN. >> RETURN AGAIN. >> SO GOOD-BYE. FAIR WELL. >> I HATE THIS PART! >> GOOD-BYE MY CONEY ISLAND BABY! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [CHEERING] [APPLAUSE] [CHEERING] [APPLAUSE] [CHEERING] [CHEERING] [CHEERING] [CHEERING] [BAND PLAYING] [CHEERING] [BAND PLAYING] [CHEERING] [CHEERING] [BAND PLAYING] [CHEERING] >> CHEERING: RIT, RIT, RIT. [CHEERING] [BAND PLAYING] [CHEERING] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [CHEERING] [BAND PLAYING] [CHEERING] >> RIT! >> RIT! >> RIT! >> RIT! >> RIT! [CHEERING] >> RIT! >> RIT! >> RIT! >> RIT! >> RIT! >> RIT! >> RIT! >> RIT! >> RIT! [CHEERING] [BAND PLAYING] [CHEERING] [BAND PLAYING] [CHEERING] >> RIT! [BAND PLAYING] [CHEERING] [BAND PLAYING] [CHEERING] [BAND PLAYING] [CHEERING] [BAND PLAYING] [CHEERING] [BAND PLAYING] [CHEERING] >> RIT! >> RIT! >> RIT! [CHEERING] >> NICE JOB GUYS! [CHEERING] >> WELCOME. IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY, WE 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. IN THAT EVENT, WE ASK THAT YOU LEAVE THROUGH A CALM AND ORDERLY FASHION THROUGH THE EXITS NEAREST YOU WHICH ARE IDENTIFIED BY EXIT SIGNS. THANK YOU. [CHEERING] [MUSIC] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> RIT! [CHEERING] >> LET'S GO TIGERS! >> LET'S GO TIGERS! >> LET'S GO TIGERS! [CLAPPING] >> LET'S GO TIGERS! [CLAPPING] >> LET'S GO TIGERS! [CLAPPING] >> LET'S GO TIGERS! [CLAPPING] >> LET'S GO TIGERS! [CLAPPING] >> LET'S GO TIGERS! [CHEERING] [LAUGHTER] >> RIT! >> RIT! >> RIT! [CHEERING] [DRUMS] [BAG PIPES] [DRUMS] [BAGPIPES] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> DR. HAEFNER: GOOD AFTERNOON! I AM DR. JEREMY HAEFNER, RIT'S PROVOST AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS. I AM HAPPY TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THIS CONVOCATION FOR NEW STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY OUR GUESTS OF HONOR, OUR NEW STUDENTS. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] I FORGOT. HANG ON. HANG ON ONE SECOND. HERE WE GO. IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR THE #RITACADEMICCONVOCATION! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AND POST! ALL RIGHT! WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN RIT FOR YOUR JOURNEY INTO HIGHER EDUCATION. WE HAVE CHOSEN TO BEGIN THIS JOURNEY WITH A FORMAL CEREMONY WHICH FEATURES SEVERAL COMPONENTS OF A VIBRANT ACADEMIC COMMUNITY: ACADEMIC REGALIA, OUR MACE, AND A FORMAL PROCESSION, TO NAME A FEW. AND WHAT A JOURNEY IT WILL BE! FILLED WITH FRIENDS, FACULTY, FRENETIC TIMES, AND FUN - A FANTASTIC INTELLECTUAL ADVENTURE. . SO LET'S GET STARTED. PLEASE STAND FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM LED BY EIGHT BEAT MEASURE, ONE OF OUR MANY STUDENT MUSIC GROUPS, AND DEAF SIGN PERFORMERS SHAYLEE FOGELBERG, JONATHAN PETERMON, NIC SHAW, AND BYRON EVANS. 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 ROCKET'S 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] PLEASE BE SEATED. THANKS AGAIN TO THE MEMBERS OF EIGHT BEAT MEASURE AND OUR DEAF SIGN PERFORMERS. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR BAGPIPERS AND DRUMMERS - LEX SLEEMAN, WHO DOUBLES HERE AT RIT AS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS/ NCAA COMPLIANCE, AND HIS COLLEAGUES - MEMBERS OF THE GATES KEYSTONE CLUB POLICE PIPES AND DRUMS, AND THE RIT PEP BAND, ANOTHER OF OUR STUDENT MUSICAL GROUPS, WHO ENTERTAINED YOU AS YOU ARRIVED FOR THIS CEREMONY. LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] SPEAKING OF HEARTY, I AM SURE YOU NOTICED THAT BOISTEROUS GROUP OF PEOPLE GREETING THE STUDENTS AS THEY ENTERED THE FIELD HOUSE. THEY ARE 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. THANKS TO THE RIT FACULTY/STAFF ALUMNI CHAPTER FOR COORDINATING WHAT WE HAVE COME TO CALL THE TIGER WALK. TO ALL THE NEW STUDENTS, TODAY YOU DID THE TIGER WALK. WHEN YOU GO ACROSS THE COMMENCEMENT STAGE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, YOU'LL DO THE TIGER SWAGGER AND STRUT. [CHEERING] WELCOME - NO ONE CAN BEAT YOU WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING STUDENTS FEEL WELCOMED! RIT IS THE PROUD HOME OF THE NATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF, ONE OF ONLY TWO INSTITUTIONS 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 1,200 STUDENTS WHO UTILIZE THE OUTSTANDING SERVICES OF OUR FACULTY, PROFESSIONAL INTERPRETERS, CAPTIONISTS, AND OTHER STAFF. WE APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THIS CEREMONY, AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR CEREMONIES ARE ENRICHED BOTH THROUGH REAL-TIME CAPTIONING AND BY THE PRESENCE AND EXPERTISE OF OUR PROFESSIONAL SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS. WE THANK THE INTERPRETERS AND THE REAL-TIME CAPTIONISTS FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO THEIR IMPORTANT WORK. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] THERE ARE A FEW SPECIAL GUESTS AND MEMBERS OF THE PLATFORM PARTY WHO JOINED US TODAY 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. TRUSTEES, THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR ALUMNI ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR 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. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING ORLANDO ORTIZ, CLASS OF 2009 AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ORLANDO, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? [APPLAUSE] WE THANK HIM -- WE THANK HIM AND OUR MORE THAN 114,000 ALUMNI WORLDWIDE FOR THEIR CONSTANT SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT. NEXT I ASK THAT DR. HOSSEIN SHAHMOHAMAD, DR. RYNE RAFFAELLE, DR. KEVIN MCDONALD, AND DR. HECTOR FLORES TO PLEASE STAND. GENTLEMEN? [APPLAUSE] DOCTOR SHAHMOHAMAD, WHO LED THIS AFTERNOON'S PROCESSION CARRYING THE MACE, IS A PROFESSOR IN THE SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES IN THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND CHAIR OF THE ACADEMIC SENATE; HE IS HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE RIT FACULTY. DR.RAFFAELLE IS ASSOCIATE PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH; DR. MCDONALD SERVES AS ASSOCIATE PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION; AND DR. FLORES IS DEAN FOR GRADUATE STUDIES. THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US IN THIS CELEBRATION! (APPLAUSE) MANY PARENTS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS MET OUR OUTSTANDING DEANS 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. DEANS, PLEASE STAND WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME AND REMAIN STANDING UNTIL ALL HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED; MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE, PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL THAT TIME. DR. H. FRED WALKER, DEAN, COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; DR. JACQUELINE MOZRALL, DEAN, SAUNDERS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS; DR. ANNE HAAKE, INTERIM 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. LORRAINE JUSTICE, DEAN, COLLEGE OF IMAGING ARTS AND SCIENCES; DR. JAMES WINEBRAKE, DEAN, COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS. DR. JAMES HALL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SCHOOL OF INDIVIDUALIZED STUDY (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE CENTER FOR MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES); DR. GERARD BUCKLEY, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF AND VICE PRESIDENT AND DEAN, RIT; [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AND DR. SOPHIA MAGGELAKIS, DEAN, COLLEGE OF SCIENCE. LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A HEARTY ROUND OF APPLAUSE! [APPLAUSE] AS WE CONTINUE OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER, YOU WILL COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE TAKE OUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACADEMIC, INTELLECTUAL, PERSONAL, AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOU, THE CLASS OF 2019 (AND 2020) VERY SERIOUSLY. IN OTHER WORDS, 'YOU ARE IN GOOD HANDS'. ACTUALLY, YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN THE GOOD HANDS OF OUR CAREER SERVICES STAFF WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY TO BRING ALL OF YOU HERE - APPROXIMATELY 3,000 FIRST YEAR STUDENTS AND MORE THAN 500 TRANSFER STUDENTS - FROM ACROSS THE NATION AND REPRESENTING COUNTRIES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. THROUGH THEIR EFFORTS, YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY WITH FELLOW STUDENTS WHO, LIKE YOU, ARE BRIGHT, AMBITIOUS AND EAGER TO LEARN; EACH OF YOU BRINGS A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCES AND TALENT THAT WILL 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 AND IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE AND HONOR THAT I FORMALLY WELCOME AND ACCEPT THIS INCOMING CLASS OF 2015. (APPLAUSE) THE GOOD NEWS IS YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN GOOD HANDS WITH THE STAFF FROM STUDENT AFFAIRS. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING DR. SANDRA JOHNSON, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS. DR. JOHNSON; WELCOME! [APPLAUSE] >>DR. JOHNSON: WELCOME PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, SISTERS, BROTHERS, FRIENDS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND OF COURSE OUR NEW STUDENTS TO RIT! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] I AM -- [NOISE] I AM EXCITED TO WELCOME YOU AND TO BEGIN A NEW JOURNEY TOGETHER. BEFORE I BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE FOR ALL OF US TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE STUDENT LEADERS AND STAFF MEMBERS WHO WORKED HARD TO MAKE THIS ORIENTATION PROGRAM WONDERFUL. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] I KNOW YOU WOULD AGREE WITH ME THEY DID AN AMAZING JOB. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] YOU DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR HERE AT RIT. AND MY SECOND TIME SIGNING IN PUBLIC. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] SO BEFORE I SIGN SOMETHING WRONG,. [LAUGHING] I AM GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR EXPERT INTERPRETERS. THANK YOU. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] STUDENTS--I HOPE YOU FOUND TIME TO RELAX THIS SUMMER WHILE ALSO ANTICIPATING AND PREPARING FOR TODAY, WHEN YOU JOIN A COMMUNITY OF SCHOLARS WHO SEEK KNOWLEDGE AND THE FORMATION OF SHARED VALUES. EACH OF YOU HAS A WIDE RANGE OF AMBITIONS AND EXPECTATIONS. WE DO NOT EXPECT-NOR DO WE WANT-FOR YOU TO BE ALIKE; WE RESPECT YOU AS INDIVIDUALS. TO REACH YOUR GOALS, YOU HAVE TO TAKE STEPS, STARTING TODAY. CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO BE ENGAGED, PAY ATTENTION, AND ASK YOURSELF EVERY DAY WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SURPASS YESTERDAY. PUSH YOUR COMFORT ZONE -- TALK TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT INTERESTS AND DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS THAN YOU. MAKE YOUR ACADEMIC PATH THE PATH OF YOUR DREAMS, NOT THE CONVENIENT OR SAFE ROUTE, OR THE DREAMS OF OTHERS. AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, GET INVOLVED IN THE LIFE OF THIS VIBRANT CAMPUS. YOU WILL HAVE A MORE MEANINGFUL AND MEMORABLE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE IF YOU OPEN YOURSELVES TO THE LEARNING THAT HAPPENS IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. NOW I'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT CHALLENGE, BUT KNOW YOU WON'T DO THIS ALONE. YOU WILL HAVE MANY PEOPLE TO SUPPORT YOU AS YOU FIND YOUR PATH AND DEFINE YOUR GOALS. TO GIVE YOU A BIT MORE INSIGHT INTO STUDENT LIFE AT RIT I INVITE YOU TO SEE FOR YOURSELF: [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] WOW. I KNOW I'M EXCITED AND I HOPE YOU ARE TOO. WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT TODAY'S EVENT IS THAT IT MARKS A NEW BEGINNING. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO EMBRACE OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK ON BEHALF OF THOSE LESS FORTUNATE AND TO LEAD REFORM IN THE, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, CULTURAL, POLITICAL, AND TECHNOLOGICAL ARENAS. AS YOU , OUR STUDENTS, CONSIDER THE WAYS THE WORLD IS CHANGING AND WILL CHANGE-AND IMAGINE YOUR PLACE IN IT-KNOW THAT YOUR RIT EXPERIENCE WILL FUEL YOUR SEARCH FOR BOTH PURPOSE AND MEANING. TODAY IS THE BEGINNING OF YOUR LIFELONG ENGAGEMENT-STUDENTS AND FAMILIES-WITH THIS GREAT UNIVERSITY. AND, STUDENTS, WHEN YOU ARE FEELING OVERWHELMED, AS EVERY SINGLE STUDENT DOES, KEEP IN MIND YOU WILL SURVIVE, AND WE ARE HERE TO HELP. ONE OF THE PLEASURES I HAVE SERVING AS THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH STUDENTS AND WATCHING THEM DEVELOP INTO SCHOLARS, ENTREPRENEURS, ARTISTS, PUBLIC SERVANTS, TEACHERS, ATHLETES, SCIENTISTS, CEOS, AND INVENTORS - BASICALLY THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW. TODAY YOU WILL HAVE THE HONOR OF HEARING FROM ONE OF RIT'S FINEST LEADERS IN THE MAKING-NICHOLAS "NICK" GIORDANO. NICK IS AN HONORS PROGRAM STUDENT WITH A DUAL MAJOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS. HE HAS PERFORMED IN TOO MANY PERFORMANCES TO MENTION AT RIT. HE IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE IMPROV GROUP, WORK IN PROGRESS. HE IS THE FOUNDER AND THE MANAGER OF RIT'S GOOD-BYE, GOOD BUY PROGRAM. [APPLAUSE] AND OH, I ALMOST FORGOT. HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT FOR THIS ACADEMIC YEAR. ARE YOU GETTING A BETTER PICTURE OF WHAT AN RIT STUDENT LOOKS LIKE? WELL GOOD. PLEASE WELCOME NICK GIORDANO AS HE GIVES YOU THE INSIDE SCOOP ON STUDENT LIFE AT RIT. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> NICK GIORDANO: HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING TODAY? WHAT'S GOING ON? LET'S GET SOME EXCITEMENT! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] I'M GOING TO SKIP INTRODUCTIONS ON ME. YOU'VE PROBABLY DONE ENOUGH ICEBREAKERS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. COLLEGE IS THE START DOWN YOUR OWN PATH OF GROWTH. NOT JUST ACADEMICALLY, BUT IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES. PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SOCIALLY. YOU , THIS GROWTH THAT HAPPENS WILL NOT JUST BE THROUGH YOUR CLASSWORK. IN FACT, IF YOU ONLY STRIVE TO GET AN A IN YOUR CLASSES, THEN YOU HAVE MISSED OUT ON ONE OF THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES OF YOUR LIFE. BECAUSE HERE AT RIT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW UNTIL EVERY ASPECT OF YOURSELF, EVERY SINGLE WAY. FOR INSTANCE, THERE'S OVER 200 CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS ON OUR CAMPUS THAT SPAN EVERY HOBBY, SPORT, AND COMMUNITY THAT YOU CAN THINK OF. JOINING THESE CLUBS FINDS NOT ONLY A WAY TO HONE YOUR HOBBY AND CRAFT, BUT ALSO CREATE LIFELONG FRIENDS. INVITE TO THE WEDDING PARTY FRIENDS WHEN YOU'RE OLDER. STUFF THAT WILL YOU CAN'T GET FROM A BOOK. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE, WELLNESS CLASSES, OUR GYM HERE, WE HAVE SPORTS, BIKE RENTALS. A LITTLE PLUG OF MINE. BUT WE HAVE THE ROCK CLIMBING, AS WELL. ALL THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO KEEP YOU PHYSICALLY FIT MEANS THAT EVERYONE CAN GET ACTIVE ON OUR CAMPUS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT AS YOU TAKE YOUR CLASSES NOT TO FORGET THAT YOU'RE ALSO HERE TO IMPROVE YOURSELF FULLY AND REDUCE STRESS AS YOU DO IT. ALL THE WHILE YOU'RE BE SETTING HEALTHY HABITS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GROWING YOURSELF MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. I'M GOING TO LET YOU IN ON A LITTLE SECRET RIGHT NOW. COLLEGE IS HARD. PEOPLE MAY HAVE NOT TOLD YOU THAT. COLLEGE IS HARD. IT ONLY GETS HARDER FROM RIGHT HERE. IT WILL NEVER GET EASIER FROM THIS MOMENT ON. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU WILL GET STRONGER. YOU WILL GET BETTER. YOU WILL BECOME MORE ABLE TO HANDLE THE CHALLENGES THAT LIE BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR GOALS. WE ARE ALL ON THIS PATH OF GROWTH. AND MOST OF THE TIME YOU WON'T KNOW WHERE THAT PATH TAKES YOU. IN FACT, SOME OF YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE A PATH TO FOLLOW AT ALL. YOU'LL BE BLAZING YOURSELF. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT THE ONLY THING THAT DETERMINES THE SUCCESS THAT YOU HAVE HERE AND IN THE REST OF YOUR LIFE IS YOU, YOUR CONVICTIONS, AND YOUR DEDICATION TO FINDING THE WAY. YOU MIGHT BE SAYING OKAY NICK, THAT'S GREAT. ALL I HAVE TO DO HERE IS IMPROVE MYSELF IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE. I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M GOING TO DO AND DO IT ALL IN FOUR YEARS WHILE ON THIS METAPHORICAL PATH. I'M COLD AND HUNGRY, DEFINITELY HUNGRY, ALONE. I KNOW IT SOUNDS DAUNTING. BUT THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION IS IF YOU HAVE A DOUBT IN YOUR MIND THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH HERE OR YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUCCEED, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AROUND YOU. LOOK AROUND YOU BECAUSE WE ARE ALL A FAMILY NOW. WE ARE ALL TIGERS. ALL THE STAFF, FACULTY, ALUMNI, AND STUDENTS THAT YOU ENCOUNTER ARE READY AND WILLING TO GUIDE AND HELP YOU WHENEVER YOU NEED IT. JUST AS YOU SHOULD BE READY TO DO THE SAME TO THEM. ALL IN ALL, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BLAST HERE AT RIT. IT'S GOING TO BE THE CRAZIEST AND BEST YEARS OF YOUR LIFE. WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AFTER YOU'VE GRADUATED YOU'LL SEE JUST HOW FAR YOU'VE COME AND JUST HOW FAR YOU HAVE TO GO. YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU GO OUT THERE AND BLAZE YOUR TRACKS AND FIND THAT PATH TO GROWTH. WE'LL ALL BE HERE TO HELP YOU ALONG THE WAY. GO TIGERS! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> DR. HAEFNER: THANK YOU, NICK! I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS YOU BEGIN YOUR TENURE AS STUDENT GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT! AND THAT TIGER SWAGGER AND STRUT IS COMING ALONG NICELY. WELL DONE. AS NICK SAID, THERE ARE SCORES OF OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO YOU AT RIT. THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY AHEAD OF 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 THE EDUCATION YOU RECEIVE IS RIGOROUS, CUTTING-EDGE, PERSONAL, RELEVANT, AND SECOND TO NO OTHER UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE. ALSO DEDICATED TO MAKING SURE YOU ARE IN GOOD HANDS, THE FACULTY CARE DEEPLY ABOUT YOU AND YOUR INTELLECTUAL GROWTH; THEY WILL CHALLENGE YOU ACADEMICALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT GROWTH OCCURS. YOUR OBLIGATION IS TO ACCEPT THIS CHALLENGE; TO BE ENGAGED, AND IN FACT, TO CHALLENGE THEM AS WELL. BUT DO SO RESPECTFULLY AND THOUGHTFULLY BECAUSE THAT IS HOW THEY WILL TREAT YOU. WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY? HERE TO HELP ANSWER THIS QUESTION IS JOE WILLIAMS. MR. WILLIAMS IS A LECTURER AND FIELD EXPERIENCE COORDINATOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS. LAST SPRING, HE WAS AWARDED THE OUTSTANDING TEACHING AWARD FOR NON-TENURE-TRACK FACULTY, A UNIVERSITY-LEVEL AWARD THAT RECOGNIZES EXCEPTIONAL FACULTY WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED A SIGNIFICANT COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS AND TEACHING AT RIT. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A WARM, HEARTY RIT WELCOME TO MR. JOE WILLIAMS. JOE? [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> JOE WILLIAMS: LAVERNE, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TODAY. DR. DESTLER PROVOST HAEFNER BOARD OF TRUSTEES DISTINGUISHED GUESTS FACULTY AND STAFF FAMILIES AND STUDENTS WELCOME: BEFORE I MAKE MY REMARKS, I'VE GOT TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT. BACK IN JUNE, I GET THIS EMAIL FROM MY NEW FRIEND SUE PROVENZANO WHO SAID: "HEY JOE: HOW'D YOU LIKE TO BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT CONVOCATION?" I THEN CALLED MY WIFE AND TOLD HER AND SHE SAID: "CONGRATULATIONS HONEY: YOU'RE GOING TO DO JUST FINE." I LET OUT A VERY WEAK: "YEAH." SO I GOT TO THINKING AND FIGURED IT OUT: THIS IS PROVOST HAEFNER'S DOING AND HERE'S WHY. HE STOPPED BY MY OFFICE ONE DAY TO AGAIN CONGRATULATE ME ON WINNING THE OUTSTANDING TEACHING AWARD. HE SAYS: "HEY JOE. WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON? WHAT HE DIDN'T REALIZE IS I LIKE TO TALK A LOT. I SAID THE COMMITTEE ON CORRECTIONS IN NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY HAS A BRAND NEW CHAIR. AND HE IS PUTTING OUT SOME RADICAL LEGISLATION. NEW YORK STATE, WE SPEND BILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON THE INMATES. THAT'S A LOT. ALL THIS VIOLENCE IN PRISON. *** ASSAULTS AND PEOPLE GETTING STABBED AND SMUGGLE DRUGS IN. I SAID DO YOU WANT TO GO TO PRISON? HE SAID I MUST BE GOING NOW. HE SAID YOU WANT TO BE A FUNNY MAN, TELL YOU WHAT, I'LL MAKE HIM KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT CONVOCATION; STICK HIM OUT IN FRONT OF 6,000 PEOPLE, AND THEN WATCH HIM SQUIRM." I ONLY HAVE TWO WORDS FOR YOU MR. PROVOST: "IT WORKED: BECAUSE I'M SCARED AS HECK OF HERE. LET ME TOLE YOU. I TOLD MY FRIENDS DAWN MURRAY AND STEPHANIE RANKIN THAT I WOULDN'T BE NERVOUS - BUT I AM. I'M KIDDING ABOUT THE PROVOST. I APPRECIATE HIM GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO HAD A HAND INON THIS. TIME IS SHORT HERE. I'M NOBODY BIG AND IMPORTANT. YES, I'M A LECTURER. BUT WHAT I WANT TO DO IS TALK TO YOU AS AN RIT ALUMNI, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO GET OUT OF THIS PLACE. OKAY? [LAUGHTER] WE HAD A GUY COME LAST YEAR FOR COMMENCEMENT. WILLIAM DAN DANIEL DANIELS PHILLIPS. HE SAID MOST SPEECHES ARE FORGETTABLE. THAT'S PROBABLY TRUE. I WANT YOU TO LOCK IN ON THIS. I AGREE WITH NICK. YOU GUYS OUGHT TO BE REALLY, REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE. RIT AND NTID, THAT'S THE GLASS RING, GUYS. IT DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN US. SOME OF YOU ARE GOING TO SAY THE IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS. NO, WE'RE AT THE TOP OF THE HEAP. YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY TO BE ADMITTED HERE. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MUST DO GUYS IS YOU HAVE TO PRIORITIZE YOUR TIME. TIME MANAGEMENT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL HERE AS A STUDENT. IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO STRUGGLE. OKAY? NOW IF YOU SAY PROFESSOR, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT PUTTING TOGETHER A TIME MANAGEMENT SCHEDULE, WE HAVE A WONDERFUL ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTER HERE. OKAY? AND THE STAFF IS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME. DAN, WENDY, ROBIN. OTHERS SO MANY I CAN'T NAME. THEY'RE ALL GOOD. MAKE SURE YOU GO GET THE HELP. WHICH BRINGS ME TO ANOTHER POINT. RIT STUDENTS, NTID, YOU'RE REALLY SMART RIGHT? SO WHEN YOU NEED HELP, YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T ASK FOR IT. BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL, YOUR PROFESSOR SAID YOU GOT A TEST TWO WEEKS FROM NOW. YOU WAITED UNTIL THE NIGHT BEFORE AND YOU OPENED THAT BOOK UP AND YOU GOT AN "A," RIGHT? [CHEERS] I KNOW YOU. I'M SMART. I'M GOING TO RIT. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT HERE. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STUDY GUYS. DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP. SECOND, SOMETHING THAT NICK ALLUDED TO. ELIMINATE ANY DOUBTS OR FEARS THAT YOU BELONG HERE IN THIS FAMILY WITH ME. I KNOW DAN AND SHELLY AND THEY'RE TWO OF THE SHARPEST PEOPLE AT RIT. THEY RUN THE ADMISSIONS PROGRAM. SO LET ME LOOK AT MY CHEAT SHEET BECAUSE I WANT TO GET THIS RIGHT HERE. DAN SHELLY IS THE ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS AND SALLY DOUGLAS IS THE SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR OF ADMISSIONS. SHEILA AND SUE LYNN. THEY DIDN'T ADMIT YOU GUYS BECAUSE THEY FELT BAD FOR YOU. THEY ADMITTED YOU BASED ON YOUR POTENTIAL TO SUCCEED. WE KNOW YOU GOT THIS. DON'T HAVE ANY DOUBT IN YOUR MIND THAT YOU BELONG HERE. AS FAR AS FEAR GOES, DR. SUSAN JEFFERS IN HER BOOK, FEAR OF FEAR. ANY TIME YOU DO SOMETHING FEAR IS GOING TO FOLLOW YOU. SPEAKING IN FRONT OF 6,000 PEOPLE FOR THE FIRST TIME OF YOUR LIFE. YOUR HEART IS GOING TO BEAT OUT OF YOUR CHEST. IT HAPPENS. YOU'RE FEARFUL, THAT'S OKAY. LET ME GET TO THE THIRD THING HERE. THIS IS IMPORTANT. MAKE SURE YOU PICK EXCELLENT MENTORS AND EXCELLENT ROLE MODELS. DR. SANDRA JOHNSON WAS PROFILED IN OUR MAGAZINE. THEY DID A WONDERFUL PIECE ON HER. EVEN SHE SAID THEY TALKED ABOUT THE VALUE OF MENTORS AND GETTING STARTED AND GOING ALONG. IT'S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP. IF YOU'RE NEEDY, LIKE I AM, YOU GOT ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN MENTORS. I DON'T KNOW WHERE DR. HOWARD WARD IS. DR. KEVIN, JUDY PORTER. NOT TO MENTION MY WIFE. THE BEST ROLE MODEL I HAVE, MY WIFE. AND MY MAIN MAN DAVE WATSON. IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET A ROLE MODEL, GET THE BEST PERSON. SOMETIMES ROLE MODELS AREN'T NECESSARILY PROFESSIONALS IN THIS FIELD. ONE OF MY BIGGEST ROLE MODELS IS MY BASHER. SHERIF BRIAN. I'VE BEEN GOING TO THIS GUY FOR TEN YEARS. THIS BROTHER HAS NEVER BEEN TO COLLEGE, BUT ONE OF THE SMARTEST MEN I EVER MET. WHEN I GO TO HIS SHOP, I LEAVE INSPIRED AND I WANT TO GO OUT AND HELP PEOPLE. I WAS VENTING TO HIM ONE DAY. I SAID IT'S A SHAME. WE DON'T HAVE CLEAN DRINKING WATER OR SUFFICIENT FOOD FOR PEOPLE TO EAT AND SUFFICIENT HOUSING. IT'S ALMOST LIKE PEOPLE WOULD RATHER TEAR EACH OTHER DOWN THAN TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP ONE ANOTHER. HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID LISTEN THOSE ARE JUST LOUD VOICES. THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ACTUALLY CARE. YOU TELL YOUR RIT STUDENTS WHEN YOU FORM YOUR CLUBS AND CLIQUES, IF YOU'RE HANGING AROUND PEOPLE WHO CAN'T SUPPORT YOU WHEN YOU'RE DOWN, GET RID OF 'EM. OKAY? [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AND THAT BRINGS ME TO THE FOURTH POINT. I LOVE TALKING. SOMETIMES I GO TO INNER CITY SCHOOLS AND I TALK TO CHILDREN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION. AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU LEARN WHEN YOU DO PROJECTS LIKE THAT IS YOU HAVE TO BEAR YOUR SOUL TO PEOPLE. I'M GOING TO BEAR MY SOUL TO YOU GUYS BECAUSE I WOULD RATHER STUDENTS LEARN SOMETHING AND SOMEBODY TOLD ME THIS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. WHEN I WAS 18 YEARS OLD GUYS, THE BIGGEST MISTAKE I EVER MADE IN MY LIFE WAS BELIEVING IN PEOPLE WHEN THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE IN ME. THEY KICK YOU WHEN YOU'RE DOWN. I'M TALKING ABOUT THOSE NAYSAYERS AND THOSE HATERS. YOU CAN'T DO THAT, YOU CAN'T DO THAT. HERE'S THE ISSUE. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HEAR THIS NEGATIVE STUFF, IT TENDS TO REPEAT ITSELF OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND YOUR MIND, YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS LATCHES ONTO IT. THE FIRST TIME YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS SAYS AH-HA, YOU ARE INCOMPETENT. YOU CAN'T DO THIS. NAH, YOU GUARD YOUR MINDS GUYS. I LISTEN TO A LOT OF MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS. ONE OF MY FAVORITES IS EARL NIGHTINGALE. HE SAYS WHATEVER WE PLANT IN OUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND WITH NOURISHMENT AND WITH REPETITION AND EMOTION WILL ONE DAY BECOME A REALITY. YOU REMEMBER THAT. IF YOU'RE HANGING AROUND WITH PEOPLE WHO FEED YOU NEGATIVE STUFF, GET RID OF THEM. IF YOU'RE GOING TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING STUDENTS, THINK ABOUT THE BRASS RING, THAT RIT SYMBOL, THAT RIT DEGREE. YOU GO WORK HARD FOR THAT AND GET THAT. TO THE PARENTS, I WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF EVERYBODY AT RIT AND OUR PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES, WE THANK YOU TO BRINGING OUR STUDENTS TO US. WE WILL PROFESSIONALLY NURTURE AND CARE FOR THEM. WE WILL CHALLENGE THEM. YOU CAN BACK OFF. YOU DON'T HAVE TO HANG OVER THEM AND WORRY ABOUT THEM. WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE PUT IN THE VALUES THAT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED AND HARD WORK. YOUR STUDENTS ARE GOING HEY PROFESSOR TAKE IT EASY. SOMEBODY'S GOT TO PAY THE TUITION. DON'T PUSH THEM TOO FAR. JUST BE THERE FOR THEM. LET ME CLOSE BY SAYING THIS. YOU'LL PROBABLY FORGET THIS SPEECH. THAT'S OKAY. YOU HEARD A LITTLE BIT OF IT. AND I HOPE THAT SOME OF THE WORDS DON'T COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU. BUT YOU REMEMBER THIS, YOU MUST WORK HARD. YOU MUST MANAGE YOUR TIME, YOU MUST BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. AND ABOVE ALL, DON'T ANY OF YOU REPEAT THE MISTAKE I DID. OKAY? IF ANYBODY, DON'T YOU EVER, EVER LET SOMEBODY TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN'T DO. IF YOU PUT THE HARD WORK IN, YOU GOT THIS! AND I'M NOT JUST ECHOING WHAT NICK SAID. THIS IS THE TRUTH. WE BELIEVE IN YOU. YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE OTHERWISE. BEFORE I GO, I'M GOING TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT MY MAIN MAN DAVE WATSON, AND A SPECIAL SHOUTOUT TO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE HEOP PROGRAM. YOU GUYS HAVE A GOOD ONE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> JEREMY HAEFNER: JOE, THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH - YOU HAVE GIVEN US LOTS TO THINK ABOUT AS WE ALL START THIS NEW JOURNEY TOGETHER. I'M GOING TO THINK TWICE BEFORE I KNOCK ON YOUR DOOR AGAIN. THAT'S FOR SURE. [LAUGHTER] IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE RIT'S PRESIDENT, DR. WILLIAM W. DESTLER. HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY OUR STUDENT ORIENTATION COORDINATORS, MARGOT DAYTON, ERICA LYSKAWA, KRISTEN HENNESSEY, AND JOSH VICKERSON. THEY WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT DURING ORIENTATION, SOME EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, AND THEN CLOSE THIS CONVOCATION. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING DR. DESTLER, THE MAN WHO HIGH FIVED 3,000 NEW STUDENTS JUST A MOMENT AGO TO THE PODIUM. DR. DESTLER! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> PRESIDENT DESTLER: CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS. AND WELCOME TO RIT! I WILL NOT SIGN THIS SPEECH. [LAUGHTER] BECAUSE AS YOU HAVE SEEN, FROM SANDY'S SPEECH, WE WOULD BE HERE ALL DAY. [LAUGHTER] IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME ALL STUDENTS BOTH NEW AND RETURNING TO RIT. IT IS ALSO MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO WELCOME ALL OF THE PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE HERE TO WISH THEM LUCK ON THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY. 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. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] 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, HOWEVER, IS REALLY UP TO YOU. I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO FIRST FIND YOUR FOOTING IN YOUR ACADEMIC STUDIES, AND THEN BRANCH OUTWARD 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 MAKES AN RIT EXPERIENCE SO SPECIAL. NOW WE IN ACADEMIA HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS EXAMPLES OF HOW TO ENGAGE IN CIVIL DISCOURSE IN 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. 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 ALWAYS START OVER. 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 ON THIS JOURNEY, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THEY HAVE TO OFFER YOU. ALSO, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME SHOULD YOU FEEL THAT THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE MAY SERVE YOU BETTER. I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING YOUR PROGRESS AND CELEBRATING YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS. FINALLY, GO TIGERS! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> MARGOT DAYTON: HELLO, I'M MARGOT DAYTON AND I'M FROM TAPPAN, 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! WE HOPE THAT YOU FOUND THE DAY TO BE HELPFUL AND INFORMATIVE. WHEN YOU RETURN HOME, PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO COMPLETE OUR ONLINE FAMILY PROGRAM EVALUATION. WATCH YOUR EMAIL FOR A LINK TO THE SURVEY! YOUR FEEDBACK IS IMPORTANT TO FUTURE ORIENTATION PROGRAMS. AGAIN, WELCOME! WE ARE GLAD YOU'RE HERE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> ERICA LYSKAWA: HELLO, I'M ERICA LYSKAWA AND I'M FROM BUFFALO, NY. OUR STUDENT PROGRAM, WHICH BEGAN THIS MORNING AND CONTINUES THROUGH SUNDAY, 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!, A PICNIC AND CARNIVAL FOR ALL NEW STUDENTS; LIGHTING THE WAY, A WELCOMING CEREMONY FOR RIT WOMEN; A GET INVOLVED FAIR; AND CULTURECON. ORIENTATION ACTIVITIES ALSO INCLUDE FREE ENTERTAINMENT EACH NIGHT AND WILL CONCLUDE WITH A *** ON SUNDAY WITH OUR ANNUAL FIREWORKS DISPLAY. ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES WILL ENABLE YOUR STUDENT TO MEET AND CONNECT WITH OTHER NEW AND RETURNING STUDENTS AND PREPARE THEM FOR THE YEAR AHEAD. [APPLAUSE] >> KRISTEN HENNESSEY: HELLO, I'M KRISTEN HENNESSEY AND I'M FROM BUFFALO, NY. 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 R.I.T. TO HELP THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE ON CAMPUS BEFORE CLASSES BEGIN ON MONDAY. [APPLAUSE] >> JOSH VICKERSON: HELLO, I'M JOSH VICKERSON AND I'M FROM NEW GLOUCESTER, ME. 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 BYRON EVANS, SHAYLEE FOGELBERG, JONATHAN PETERMON, AND NIC 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] HAIL, RIT! TOGETHER STAND; CREATING GOOD WITH MIND AND HAND; INSPIRED TO LEARN 'TIL 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! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [DRUMS AND BAGPIPES] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]