Erin Supinka

The celebrities on campus this month will be the different candidates running for Student Government positions for the ’12-13 school year. Current president and vice president, Greg Pollock and Phil Amsler are both graduating leaving the competition up to fresh faces.
 
Two teams have stepped up to run. Taylor Dee and Sarah Thomas, two Student Government veterans are running against Victor Santiago and Mark Leonardo II, both extremely involved on campus.
 
With Women’s History month only being last month, the Campus Celebrity column urges all the ladies out there to take advantage of the opportunity to vote; a right that many women who we celebrated last month fought for.
 
In honor of the elections, the column will be dedicated to learning a little bit more about the candidates running.
 
This means instead of just one, this week’s Campus Celebrity is actually “celebrities”.
 
Let’s meet one of the running pairs, Taylor Deer and Sarah Thomas and learn more about their campaign. 
 
 
Taylor Deer is running for the Student Government president. He’s fourth year Business Management major. He currently holds the position of Greek Senator with Student Government.  
 
What made you get into Student Government in general? At RIT?
 

 
          To help celebrate Women’s History Month, the Campus Celebrity Column is going to showcase pillars of Rochester Institute of Technology through out history. Instead of just being students, professors or alumnae, the column is going to take a look at key women figures in RIT’s history, starting this week off with the well known, Kate Gleason.
            The name Kate Gleason is mostly known around campus as the College of Engineering. It is the only engineering college to be named after a woman in the entire country. Born and raised in Rochester, Gleason actually attended both Cornell University and Sibley College of Engraving and Mechanics Institute, which is now RIT.
             She got her start in machine working at the age 12 by working for her father’s company, Gleason Works. Later in life, she helped push the company to become a top name for gear-cutting machinery in the U.S.
She stole the limelight from her father, when Henry Ford completely accredited her with the creation a machine that cut gears faster and more cost efficiently then most machines at the time.
Gleason Works was not the only company to profit from Gleason’s skills. Becoming the first women president of a U.S. national bank in 1917. During her duration as president, she promoted large-development of low cost housing.
Also becoming the first woman to be admitted into the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Gleason engraved her name into the world of engineering for being a smart, savvy businesswoman, as well as a top-notch engineer.
When she passed away, she left an estate of 1.4 million dollars, some of which was allotted to RIT, although much of it went to charities.

Nikko Schaff, working through his second year at RIT is easily classified as a campus celebrity. In his first year here, he created an app that is actually available on the Apple app market. He's currently working on a company in his second year. Balancing both school and becoming an entrepreneur, Nikko Schaff is definitely a RIT Campus Celebrity.
 
What is your major? And year?
Computer Science, 2015.
 
Why did you choose RIT?
It was the best college, in my eyes, that offered a strong educational experience, while providing the resources to allow me to work on my own independent ventures.
 
What has been your favorite class so far?
Most likely Science & Technology values, as taught by Thomas Cornell, Ph.D. He expertly linked themes and raised significant thoughts about particularly interesting figures in the history of Western science and technology, and the societal impact they made.
 
Favorite part of RIT?
RIT is a university that’s full of surprises. On the surface you may only notice a sea of bricks, but when you start to discover the amazing and unique programs at the School for American Crafts, or learn about the mind-blowing research that our professors have done, you start to gain an appreciation for RIT that is difficult to duplicate anywhere else.
 
Favorite professor?
Ryan Garcia, Ph.D, professor of political science. I had an Introduction to International Relations course with him, and from there I’ve learned a great deal, we’ve become good friends, and he even helped me form the idea for my current entrepreneurial venture.
 
Favorite place to eat?
The Grille at Global Village has never disappointed, but it’s hard to walk by Artesano without being tempted for a hot cider.
 
What is your app? What does it do?

RIT alumni Brendan Nagle is undoubtedly a Campus Celebrity. Graduating from RIT with a film major, Brendan went on to complete graduate school at Syracuse University and is back in Rochester currently working a feature film called “The Essentials” that is set to premiere downtown around February/March! Also, check out his website, http://thebrendannagle.com, to check out more of his work!
 
 
What was your favorite class/professor?
Flag Football with Roger Worsley. Took it 8 times in 4 years. I considered myself a double major in Film Production and Flag Football.
 
 
What was your favorite food place on campus? 
Specific item... Freshens' Berry Breeze Smoothies. I think they've changed the ingredients now though. Blasphemy. That stuff was nectar of the gods.
 
 
Least favorite part about RIT?
In the spring, those Bradford pear trees on the quarter mile made me want to commit olfactory suicide. I know they look really nice... but you can't smell them in pictures.
 
 
What dorm did you live in?
NRH6 freshman year. I was an RA for the remainder of college, so I went to Sol 3, Phi Delt, then ROTC. Always all guys. Gotta love the testosterone overload on an eventful weekend.
 
 
Piece of advice about how to survive RIT?
Quit complaining about what you think sucks, just go out and meet friends. You'll miss it when it's gone.
 
 
Advice to girls about how to survive RIT?
Don't be afraid to step up and challenge the men in any regard, as you'll probably win, then will soon be regarded as an item too hot to handle and will avoid a lot of objectification while gaining respect from both genders.
 
 
Have you visited recently?
Yes, I'm working on the movie in Rochester and am still pretty tight with a lot of the younger Film kids and AEPi guys.