Third-year marketing major Joshua Michaels wanted a place at RIT where he could perform and make music with other creatives like himself. “There is a lot of great music at RIT,” said Michaels, a Far Rockaway, N.Y., native. “But I noticed a real gap for students interested in making hip-hop and R&B—and I wanted to build a space for artists like me to grow and create community.” ‌ Provided Events like the Bars’N’Blues jam session, seen here, give students the opportunity to collaborate and build musical fellowship on campus. What started as a bold idea between a few students has grown into one of RIT’s most electrifying and purposeful communities. In just over a year, BARS—Black Artists and Records Society— has transformed into a full-fledged creative collective of over 150 members, amplifying the voices of hip-hop, R&B, and soul culture through artists, writers, and producers on campus. Michaels, along with Austin Coppedge, a fourth-year graphic design major from West Orange, N.J., and Scott Franco, a 2024 graduate of RIT’s marketing program, formed the initial group. Using a limited budget, the group utilized campus and local connections to coordinate events. “It was a lot of late nights going back and forth in our group chat together,” said Coppedge, the club’s co-vice president. “We had to get creative finding rooms to host workshops and make flyers from events. But from day one, we sold people a dream and eventually got people to buy in.” BARS has cultivated a dynamic space in a multitude of ways. The club has had a busy schedule over its first year, with notable events including production and engineering workshops, panels featuring local artists with ties to major musical acts to educate and inspire students, holiday-inspired events such as Stagefright, a spooky-themed open mic event designed to help artists overcome their fears, and tours of Rochester’s historic music scene in collaboration with RIT’s Center for Leadership & Civic Engagement. Two events stand out for the group. Last April, three months into its existence, BARS introduced Bars’n’Blues, a two-hour open jam session for musicians who want to make hip-hop and R&B music. The response was tremendous, with nearly 30 students improvising together to make music and share community. It became a pivotal moment for the club. "That night, something clicked," said Michaels. "We weren’t just a club anymore. We were a movement." ‌ Provided Members of BARS and a student group from an interactive music video experience class pose with music artist Chi TheRealest after an augmented reality concert on campus last spring. Another moment last spring was an augmented reality concert on campus, conceived from a project in the Interactive Music Video Experience class. Approached by a student group, BARS helped provide logistical support, marketing, and opening acts. Michaels, who performs under the stage name Jaykyss, opened with other RIT talents for accomplished music artist Chi TheRealist. “There’s a lot of things that go into a concert,” Michaels said. “Again, at that time we had no budget, no facilities, no operations. We barely had artists. But looking back, it was an amazing opportunity that fell into our hands. It solidified us.” To cap off this school year, the club is preparing for an upcoming spring concert, BARS Presents: The Underground. Showcasing original performances by RIT student rappers, singers, and instrumentalists, the event, which will be held at MAGIC Spell Studios, emphasizes authenticity over spectacle. “We’re the underground scene of RIT,” Michaels said. “We don’t have as much tech or instruments, but we’ve got a microphone and big speakers, and sometimes that’s all you need.” Members utilize BARS’ programing to build professional portfolios. For Coppedge, whose graphic contributions help shape the club’s visual identity, this experience is representative of RIT’s interdisciplinary spirit. “This was one of the first real projects that carried my name in a professional context,” Coppedge said. “It gives people the chance to see how we can link creative arts, music, and branding into something that shows that different majors can intertwine and really create something beautiful for the campus and community.” “At RIT, your dreams are obtainable,” said Steven Simmons, a fourth-year global business management major from Rochester and the club’s co-Vice President. “Anything is possible, but no one's going to grab your hand. You have to reach for it.”  

Nash Snyder, a fourth-year film and animation – production option student, and his brother Jake were born less than a year apart. As they got older, Snyder faced frustration and confusion about the different treatment he and his brother would receive. The only difference between Snyder and Jake was that Jake was born with Down syndrome. For his final capstone project, Snyder, a Rochester Native, directed a short film called Turn Table. The film spins a tale of a young man with Down syndrome who goes into a record store to find an album but keeps getting pulled in many directions by different people who don’t quite understand him. “It was really fun to be part of my brother’s film because he’s such a great director,” said Jake, who was the lead actor in the film. “It was great being part of something so cool, and having an awesome cast that really appreciated me and made me feel welcome.” After graduation, Snyder plans to submit the film to festivals with the goal of adapting it into a feature length film. What inspired you to create Turn Table? ‌ Provided ‘Turn Table’ was filmed at Record Archive, an iconic local music store. Snyder’s stepdad, Danny, introduced Snyder and his brother to the store when they were kids. I knew it was a story that I really needed to tell. Growing up, there were a lot of times when people would learn that Jake has Down syndrome and they would go, ‘Oh, that must be hard,’ or ‘Is he okay?’ And this is kind of our way of responding to that and saying no, Down Syndrome not something to feel sorry for. I hope people leave it and they’re inspired to try to be more like the main character, or more like my brother. I was also inspired by my stepdad, Danny. He used to bring us to the Record Archive a lot when we were kids, and that was our main location for filming. He passed away about a decade ago and the film is dedicated in his honor. He was the one who really taught Jake and I that you should only judge someone by their character and capacity for kindness. And, of course, their music taste. Why is it important to feature diverse perspectives and actors in films? I think a lot of times people discount those living with Down syndrome or different disabilities in their films because they assume that they're not up for the job or can't rise to the occasion. In Rochester, there's a very close community of people with Down syndrome and my family has been involved with that community my whole life. They’re all great on camera, and they're all capable. Thankfully, there is a trend toward inclusion in filmmaking and featuring more diverse voices, but people are still being left out. I wanted to do what I could to lift my brother’s voice and the voices of other people with Down syndrome. Can you share how your communities came together to support the film? The support for the film and our fundraising campaign blew up more than I thought it would, and I think it’s because the story is really rooted in our local connections. All the songs featured in the film are made by Rochester artists, including one by our stepdad, Danny.  The local bands that we sourced music from are all super psyched about it. Our family is also close with organizations like Flower City Down Syndrome Network, the Rochester Rotary Sunshine Camp, and other groups. When I sent emails asking if they wanted to see the film and support it, they all got excited because they’ve known me and Jake forever. At RIT, the film program has been supportive. They all saw the vision and they came together to help me create it. At one point, I needed to fill the entire record store with fake albums due to copyright reasons. I reached out to all my friends in the program who were making films and asked them to make fake album art inspired by their work. Pretty much all my friends have their films featured in mine, and it really feels like a group effort. Film Credits Some key crew members who brought Turn Table to life include Writers Nash Snyder and Sam Fleming; Sound Mixer and Music Supervisor Colin O’Brien; Editor Ally Christel; Producer Lucas Sherron; and Associate Producer Tk James.

National Technical Institute for the Deaf information and computing studies students solved a problem that has made an immediate impact at RIT Dining locations across campus. The initiative, begun nearly two years ago, has resulted in state-of-the-art, deaf-friendly point-of-sale systems that use interactive monitors for easy ordering and delivery of food and beverages. Previously, employees, who were often masked, used their voices to call out orders that were ready for pick up, without significant accommodations for deaf and hard-of-hearing customers. Prototype components for this project were developed through a mini grant offered by NTID. Students worked with Professor James Mallory, who helped them see how this idea could be transformed into a real-world application, as well as RIT food service managers, who were instrumental in the process. Using their knowledge from classroom instruction, the students figured out how the experimental process would flow, how to build their equipment and component list, and how to apply for the grant to acquire necessary funding, explained Mallory. Monitors and keypads connected to small controllers and scanners, along with technical know-how, helped them develop a prototype system. “By tackling real-world challenges, students gained hands-on experience in problem solving, prototyping, and technical development—skills essential in the IT workforce,” said Mallory. “They learned to secure funding, adapt to setbacks, and collaborate with stakeholders, mirroring the innovation and troubleshooting required in IT-focused careers. This project with RIT Dining strengthened their technical expertise and helped prepare them to create meaningful solutions in their future technical roles.” Luke Chrzan, a second-year motion picture science student from Middletown, N.J., is a regular customer at The College Grind. “It’s a lot easier for me to enter my order on the kiosk, which prints it out on paper, rather than trying to communicate by mouth or using sign language,” Chrzan said. “It’s not only efficient for us as students trying to hustle to classes, but for the employees who don’t have to slow down trying to figure out a customized order.” Melissa Xie, a second-year advertising and public relations major from Queens, N.Y., has worked at The College Grind for two semesters. “I believe these automated kiosks have been extremely beneficial for me as a student worker,” she said. “Having these kiosks allows for customers to order at their own pace as well as helps them visualize the drinks and foods they are ordering with the images the kiosk provides.” Five kiosks have been installed at three dining locations on campus.

Christopher Lewis and Drew Maywar, faculty members in RIT’s College of Engineering Technology (CET), have been named Russell C. MacCarthy Endowed Professors. Given to faculty to build academic and research relationships between the college and industrial communities, the distinction reflects CET’s faculty connections to industry and its preparation of the next generation of industry professionals. “When we celebrate faculty for research, teaching, and scholarship, it is not just one student who benefits, but a generation of students,” said Prabu David, RIT Provost. CET Dean S. Manian Ramkumar agreed. “We are able to recognize the accomplishments of two of our wonderful faculty, Christopher Lewis and Drew Maywar, because of the donors who invested in RIT in the name of Russell McCarthy. Today, this investment is building the foundation for the future.” CET is known for its connections to industry and applied learning. It’s growing research portfolio will add to that foundation as Lewis and Maywar have distinguished themselves with significant technological research, as inspiring teachers and mentors, and through collaborations with industry partners.  Lewis, an associate professor in CET’s manufacturing and mechanical engineering technology department, is a scientist with expertise in self-healing polymers, biodegradable plastics, shape memory and additive manufacturing. Prior to joining RIT, Lewis worked for 10 years in the plastics industry for Delphi Corp., General Motors and TE Connectivity. He has partnered with RIT peers as well as national companies and government agencies on manufacturing projects and new product research. His students—from undergraduate to doctoral students—participate on this work. “The endowed professorship will enable me to continue advancing research in polymers and soft matter, as well as foster collaboration across CET’s graduate programs,” said Lewis. “Students are the heart of my research, and seeing them achieve their dreams, that is my ultimate goal. I’m excited for what lies ahead.” Maywar, a professor in CET’s electrical and computer engineering technology department, also recognized the participation of students in his research advancing fiber optic networks and optical signal processing. Much of his research takes place locally and internationally. Prior to coming to RIT, Maywar was a Fulbright Scholar in the early 1990s at Osaka University, and served as a member of technical staff at Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies and as a laser system scientist at the University of Rochester’s Laser Energetics Laboratory. He recently returned from a sabbatical in Japan where he established a diabetes research program and global partnership with physicians and researchers at the Kagoshima University Hospital. Lucius and Fred Gordon, long-time supporters of RIT, established the professorship in 1979 to recognize friend and colleague Russell McCarthy’s industrial leadership. McCarthy was manager of the regional Industrial Management Council of Rochester, a position he held until his retirement in 1971. (This organization is now the Rochester Chamber of Commerce.) The endowed professorship supported the School of Applied Industrial Studies (SAIS), one of the earliest names of RIT’s current College of Engineering Technology. At the time, SAIS was based at RIT’s former West Main Street location.  Although much has changed since the establishment of the endowed professorship, the focus on contributions to industry has remained relevant.