Photo Spotlights

A Japanese-style stone bench was dedicated in a ceremony at the Tojo Garden in honor of the 20th anniversary of the RIT-KIT partnership on Oct. 9.

RIT’s College of Liberal Arts celebrated the official opening of the Stan McKenzie Commons on Oct. 9, named for the former RIT provost and longtime English department faculty member. McKenzie donated $300,000 to the college to renovate the commons area in Liberal Arts Hall and to fund a salon series that will highlight research being performed by Liberal Arts faculty and students.

RIT President Bill Destler and Kananzawa Institute of Technology President Ken-ichi Ishikawa hosted presidential symposium “Musical Notes and Magical Knives.” Here, President Ishikawa spoke about the history of sword making in Japan.

RIT alumna Debra Rothenberg ’84 has written her first book, Bruce Springsteen In Focus 1980-2012. The book includes personal essays and over 250 photographs and was named one of the five best photography books coming out this fall by The Wall Street Journal. A book launch is scheduled for Oct. 12 in Asbury Park, NJ at The Stone Pony, where Springsteen performed.

RIT’s School for American Crafts sold its unique hand-blown glass pumpkins and gourds during the ninth annual Glass Pumpkin Patch fundraiser Oct. 5. Proceeds from the sale benefit the Visiting Artists Series for the RIT glass program as well as RIT Women’s Council scholarships.

“Memories, Observations, Experiences, Obsessions” highlights Toby Thompson’s most recent works before he died in 2012 at the age of 79. The exhibition will be held through Dec. 14 in the University Gallery, and the public is invited to an opening reception from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11. Thompson began his teaching career at RIT in 1968. He received his M.S. degree in fine arts from RIT in 1975, was later appointed chair of industrial, interior and packaging design, and held that position until his retirement in 1996.

Dan Smith, a senior project manager in the Center for Sustainable Mobility in the Golisano Institute for Sustainability, discusses the lab’s capabilities with New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. DiNapoli visited RIT Oct. 1, including the university’s business incubator, Venture Creations, to promote a program for seed funding for start-up companies.

Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. (District 1, Sag Harbor) met with Anahita Williamson, director of the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute, inside the Golisano Institute for Sustainability on Oct. 2. Thiele, a member of the state’s Environmental Conservation Committee, received an update from Williamson on NYSP2I’s statewide sustainability efforts, including the Long Island wine industry initiative.

Sunflowers line the Quarter Mile near the Gordon Field House. Greg Moss, senior director of the Center for Recreation and Intramurals, started the tradition of planting seeds in the spring several years ago. This year’s crop was the best display ever.

RIT students participate in Mud Tug 2013, the annual all out tug-of-war tournament held behind Grace Watson Hall on Sept. 28. All proceeds from the event, hosted by Phi Kappa Psi and Zeta Tau Alpha, are donated to Hillside Family of Agencies.

RIT students participate in Mud Tug 2013, the annual all out tug-of-war tournament held behind Grace Watson Hall on Sept. 28. All proceeds from the event, hosted by Phi Kappa Psi and Zeta Tau Alpha, are donated to Hillside Family of Agencies. Left to right, Maria de Sande, Jessica Cook, Emily Heitz and Conor McKaig.

Eight Beat Measure, an RIT a cappella group, performed at the Little Cafe during the second annual Fringe Festival on Sept. 28.