June 2006

Volume 5 Issue 6

Tigers Tale Archives Visit the archives Navigating This Issue Welcome - Share this newsletter with a friend! The Fund For RIT - Help us reach our goal! Online Community - Keep your friends informed! In the News - Get the latest RIT news! Alumni Benefits - Take advantage of group savings! Regional Activities - Don't miss the next event in your area! RIT Athletics - Support your Tiger athletes! Campus Activities - Take advantage of campus programs! The Fund For RIT LESS THAN 30 DAYS LEFT! Powered by the Future - Take It to the Top! Whatever amount you can afford, whatever area you choose to support and whatever day you can send your gift before June 30, it will make a difference in Powered by the Future: The Campaign for RIT. Your support of your alma mater during one of the most critical times in its history will help secure the future for RIT and all it stands for. The value of your degree will also continue to grow along with RIT's success. THERE'S NOT MUCH TIME LEFT, and more than ever we mean it when we say EVERY GIFT COUNTS! Join the thousands of other alumni who have already stepped up to the challenge. Show your support by making an online gift today. It may be your gift that takes this Campaign over the top! Powered by the Future Make a Gift Fund for RIT Telefund  [top] Alumni Connect Online Are You Registered for the Alumni Online Community? Membership in the online community allows you to: update your address set your account preferences search for classmates make new connections obtain an @alum.rit.edu email address check out regional and campus event invitations search alumni business pages receive the latest RIT news access library research databases and more... In addition, when you update your postal mailing address online, you will receive a free subscription to RIT: The University Magazine. What are you waiting for? Register today! [top] In The News Simone to Retire President Albert Simone, RIT's eighth president, will retire in mid-2007. Simone's career in higher education has spanned nearly 50 years, during which time he served as an economics professor, a business school dean and president of two universities. He joined RIT in 1992 after leading the University of Hawaii. Michael Morley '69 (business administration), chairman of the board of trustees, announced that RIT will immediately begin to appoint a Presidential Search Committee. Trustee Donald Boyce '67 (business administration) will chair the committee, which will include representatives of all RIT constituencies in the spirit of an inclusive process. If you missed President Simone's retirement announcement news conference, or his recent WITR live call-in show, now you can catch up. The retirement news conference (May 17) is available with an open-captioned video stream. UNS debuts its first podcast with an episode from the WITR "Ask President Simone" show. Here, the President discusses a range of topics: ... RIT's first deaf student government president .... new Ph.D. programs...plans for College Town... and more.... Users can subscribe via iTunes, download the mp3, or read the transcript. Both the streaming video and the podcast can be found on the University News website. Clinton Supports RIT Research During a visit to campus on May 5, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton made it clear that support of RIT research is a sound investment for the Rochester region and the entire country. In the face of rapidly rising energy costs, Clinton formally presented $4 million to the Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies. The funding will support research related to alternative fuel sources and issues related to life-cycle engineering. Along with Sen. Chuck Schumer, Clinton sponsored the funding as part of last year's Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act, which authorizes funding for transportation programs through the 2009 federal fiscal year. Also during her visit, the senator announced that the U.S. Armed Services Committee recently authorized $8 million for next fiscal year to support the center's Defense Systems Modernization and Sustainment Program. This cost-saving initiative, which focuses on extending the life and improving the performance of numerous military platforms, has earned $24 million in previous federal funding since 1998. Clinton is a member of the Armed Services Committee and requested the new funding for RIT. Grad Earns Degree After 50 Years Roger Haich always finishes what he starts—even if it takes 50 years. The new RIT graduate began his RIT experience fresh out of high school, in 1950, at the downtown Rochester campus. It culminates this month in the Gordon Field House and Activities Center. Haich, who studied under three different university presidents, recalls campus life when there were fewer than 5,000 students enrolled. Today there are over 15,000. After earning his associate's degree in mechanical engineering in 1953, Haich entered the Navy Reserve. While taking classes in the Navy, he fell in love with electrical engineering. RIT began offering a B.S. in electrical engineering while Haich was in the reserves. Upon his return, he began taking night classes—and continued for 13 years. The classes Haich completed served him well. He found that he was able to succeed in many fields and at several companies—including LVD (a Kodak company), Harris Corp. and his own successful housing development. Learning that he needed three classes to graduate, he took music and business at the Athenaeum. Haich graduated with a bachelor's degree in applied arts and science last fall and participated in RIT's 2006 commencement ceremonies this May—two weeks after witnessing one of his eight grandchildren graduate from college (he also has two great grandchildren). Student Government President Makes History Elizabeth "Lizzie" Sorkin, a film/video and animation major, was elected as 2006-2007 Student Government president, making her the first deaf student government president at a U.S. college comprised of mostly hearing students. Sorkin, of Elk Grove, Calif., is finishing her term as NTID Student Congress president, where she led the effort to hold regular pep rallies, and followed outgoing SG President James Macchiano's lead to encourage Spirit Fridays, social gatherings and more to create a new sense of community within NTID. Born hearing to deaf parents, Sorkin became deaf at a very young age for reasons unknown, and she attended mainstream schools her whole life. She chose RIT because, she says, of the mainstream environment as well as exemplary support services offered. Sorkin earned a Davis Scholar Award, an academic achievement and service award, and has made Dean's List several times. She also won awards from several film festivals. For these and other news stories, visit the University News Web site. RIT Campus Campaign Beats Goal Volunteers 'Paint On' Light at Art Gallery New Software Assists Web Site Developers RIT Students Develop Deep-Sea Explorer Former Rochester Mayor at Home at RIT RIT Salutes 2006 Grads TAGA Book Cracks the Code Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching Honorees [top] Further Resources Alumni Relations Home Alumni Benefits Alumni Travel Program Athletics Brick City Homecoming Career Services Contact Us Regional Events RIT Home Rivers Run Development The Fund for RIT Tiger's Sports Schedules University News Blog University News Services Volunteer Opportunities