Students build community through beats and BARS
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.”
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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."
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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.”
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- Imagine RIT will have artificial intelligence around every turnAI at Imagine RIT Find a list of more than 50 artificial intelligence (AI) exhibits at Imagine RIT. If festivalgoers have trouble exploring the more than 430 exhibits at this year’s Imagine RIT, they can now enlist the help of artificial intelligence (AI). The RIT community has created Imagine RIT Bot—a generative AI chatbot that’s like ChatGPT but focuses on the Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival. For example, visitors can ask Imagine RIT Bot to find exhibits where they get to throw things or to plan a route of two robotics exhibits and a musical performance on their way to lunch. Imagine RIT Bot can be found at the RIT AI Hub Showcase exhibit, amongst several other AI tools created by students, faculty, and staff. The bot is one of the many Imagine RIT projects across campus that will incorporate the emerging technology of AI. “AI is here to stay and it’s going to change us,” said Christopher Collison, director of RIT’s AI Hub. “AI will enable the creation of different jobs and it will automate certain things, so we should able to spend more time doing the things we truly enjoy. RIT’s mindset is that we need to create and use AI responsibly and for the better.” Hey Tutor Bot RIT AI Foundry RIT experts have created an Imagine RIT chat bot for visitors hoping to learn more about and explore the festival. At the AI Hub Showcase, visitors can take a lesson with Tutor Bot. It’s an AI-powered tutor that doesn’t just give the answers—like ChatGPT—it helps people learn and study by digging deep in their foundational knowledge. On the back end, Tutor Bot relies on expert information from RIT faculty members and is built on top of a large language model. The tone of the bot can be modified to teach different audiences—from third graders to college students. In the future, the AI Hub hopes to make Tutor Bot available to all RIT students. It’s one of the many AI tools RIT is building from the ground up, with ethics in mind. At Imagine RIT, visitors will take sample courses in chemistry, physics, algebra, survival skills, and making “redstone” in Minecraft. Students working on the tools include Gregory Ojiem, a fifth-year computer science major, Hunter Landolfi, a fifth-year computer engineering major, and Neav Ziv, a third-year computer science major. Some other AI tools in development will also be available to try, including an advisor bot for scheduling courses and a research concierge bot that creates short biographies about RIT researchers to connect them with potential collaborators. “We want the public to get involved because AI is for everyone, not just big companies,” said Collison, who is also an endowed professor in the School of Chemistry and Materials Science. “It’s very empowering to do hands-on work with AI—anyone that learns how to use AI, can be a part of it.” Dreaming of AI Dreamcatcher Two RIT students are exhibiting Dreamcatcher, a dream-focused social media platform they are creating. The app uses AI to help users explore their friends’ dreamscapes and investigate similarities between dreams. Many college students dream of developing the next hot app. Two RIT students are making that happen. Jonah Witte, a second-year computer science major, and Gabriel Casselman, a second-year motion picture science major, are building a dream-based social media platform called Dreamcatcher. The app lets users share their dreams, explore their friends’ dreamscapes, and uncover connections between them. Dreamcatcher will be on display and available to download at Imagine RIT. The students are programming this for a fun side project. “We saw this as an untapped market,” said Witte, who is from Silver Spring, Md. “I’ve always been a big dreamer, and I like telling friends about my dreams. This is a dream journal where you can share with others and compare.” AI is at the core of the app, which uses a Google embedding model to break up dreams into different numbers and compare them. Users can scroll through their feed to see what others are dreaming about. “The AI will identify trends,” said Casselman, who is from Santa Barbara, Calf. “Maybe all your friends have a dream about whales on the same night or maybe your friends are appearing in each other’s dreams.” The students plan to show off a demo of the app at Imagine RIT and share how they made the platform. “We’re excited to get feedback from people,” said Casselman. “And we’ll keep adding interesting things as we go.” If you go Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 26 on the RIT campus. The event is free and open to the public. Plan your day on the Imagine RIT website.
- Tigers take on New York City through a new study-away programThe fast-paced lifestyle and creative energy in New York City was an appealing prospect for Wendy Chen, but she knew that establishing herself in a new, unfamiliar city would be challenging. RIT in NYC paved the way for Chen and other photography students to test the waters and discover if city life is everything they had imagined. Fanny Venegas Wendy Chen and Fanny Venegas agree that spreading their wings in an unfamiliar city was easier to do with help and support from their fellow students, professors, and local RIT alumni who extended a friendly hand. Chen, a fourth-year photographic and imaging arts – visual media option major, spent much of her spring semester working alongside Christine Blackburne ’05 (photographic and imaging arts – advertising photography option), a director and photographer specializing in beauty products, food, and luxury goods. As a photo studio intern, Chen helped Blackburne wrangle all the details and assets required for photoshoots and got experience working with companies like Maybelline, Tampax, Nioxin, and La Roche-Posay. “Being in New York City was very eye-opening for me. In class we learn about things like what a production might look like and the different types of roles that come into play. Here, I’m able to apply what I’ve learned and get that real-world production experience that can’t really be replicated in the classroom,” said Chen, from Montville, Ct. This is the first semester RIT in NYC was offered, and nine students jumped at the opportunity. During the semester-long program, students got work experience through internships, took in-person classes tailored specifically to the program, and enjoyed both guided and self-guided excursions around one of the largest creative industry landscapes on the East Coast. RIT in NYC is the brainchild of Laurie O’Brien—associate professor, director of RIT’s photographic and imaging arts – visual media option undergraduate program, and James E McGhee Fellow—and is intended to support and enhance the on-campus experiences students get in Rochester. According to O’Brien, giving students the opportunity to live and work in the city can give them a head start on building their career. Wendy Chen “Many students cannot afford to move to NYC after graduation to look for a job. But when New York companies are hiring, they often want you to already be in the city. In many cases, they also want to see NYC experience on someone’s resume,” said O’Brien. “This program provides the scaffolding for students to get that experience before they graduate.” In addition to New York being a creative hub, O’Brien shared that the large, supportive network of RIT alumni in the city made it an attractive location for this study-away opportunity. RIT alumni like Blackburne helped all nine students in this year’s cohort secure internships, including placements at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, YARDNYC, Elite World Group modeling agency, and NYC Salt. Alumni also hosted weekly industry visits for the students, welcoming them to their workplaces for panel discussions and photography portfolio reviews. With the help of alumni, students visited the offices of The New Yorker, Hearst Magazines, VOX Creative, Netflix, Getty Images, Aperture, and Wieden and Kennedy. “The biggest impact I have seen on students in the program is an increase in their confidence,” said O’Brien. “I know that students are leaving this experience with a strong idea of how the creative industry works, and they’ve learned how to manifest their dreams.” As fourth-year student Fanny Venegas, from Elba, N.Y., looks toward her future, she is grateful for the experiences this study-away semester brought her way. She described it as the “perfect transition to the real world,” particularly because she has plans to move to the city once she graduates. Venegas, a photographic and imaging arts – visual media option major, spent most of her time working as a fashion photography intern at Society Management, a modeling agency. She interviewed models when they came in for photoshoots, helped edit their photos and videos, helped design their comp cards—a marketing tool used in modeling akin to a visual resume—and even helped some models renew their visas by assembling portfolios to show as a proof of their work. “Working in NYC has always been a dream of mine, but I had no plan for how to make it happen. Having guidance from Professor O’Brien and some friendly alumni has been a blessing,” said Venegas. “It’s amazing how much people are willing to give back. We never met these alumni before this, we just have one thing in common: that we both went to RIT. People tell you about RIT connections all the time, but it’s really inspiring to see it firsthand.” RIT in NYC is open to all undergraduate photography majors and select photography minors. For more information about RIT in NYC, visit the program’s website or email Laurie O’Brien at lcofaa@rit.edu.
- That’s a wrap! Munson’s movies mark an RIT eraRIT’s 10th president will be remembered for many things after he retires June 30—construction of the SHED, completion of the 2025 Strategic Plan, creation of the Performing Arts Scholarship program. But a key piece of David Munson’s legacy is the six playful and sometimes wacky videos that welcomed students each year to RIT. The Munson Years Learn how RIT evolved during President David Munson’s tenure. “It was refreshing that a president of this big institute came in with a sense of humor,” said RIT student Karla Torres. She fondly remembers the video made for her incoming class that featured Munson as a flannel-clad college student trying to fit in. In the videos, Munson and his wife, Nancy, rapped, went back to school, solved age-old mysteries, and skipped down the RIT brick road. They wore costumes and bedazzled orange-rhinestone sneakers. Munson used the videos to make himself approachable and to distinguish RIT from other universities. He never anticipated the reaction. “Students saw us in the videos and then they wanted to talk to us, and they wanted to have pictures, and they wanted to send pictures to their parents,” Munson said. “That happened in a very major way. I almost couldn’t go outdoors in August and September after we released one of these videos because I couldn’t get across campus. Every 3 feet there would be another student who wanted to talk.” President Munson had a list of things to do to help make sure campus was in perfect condition in this 2018 silent film—his first video. President Munson had a list of things to do to help make sure campus was in perfect condition in this 2018 silent film—his first video. The videos drew upon the Munsons’ background in musical theater and their love for the performing arts and reinforced the president’s legacy of technology, the arts, and design at RIT. “I think the videos helped create an environment where people are more open with each other and willing to have fun and not worry so much about what others think of them,” Munson said. “You can be your own person at RIT.” Nancy Munson co-starred in the productions. She liked the inventive videos and supportive messages conveyed to students. “Every video was unique, and each class has had their own,” she said. “They were a gift to the students, and I think that’s what made them special. It was also a fun way for us to do something together.” In the 2022 video, 'In the Brick of Time', President Munson learns that being a student again is more challenging than it looks. The Munson video series began in 2018 with the silent film, President’s Pre-orientation Prep List, shot by RIT’s University Creative Services. The next two welcome-back videos focused on staple RIT themes—learn ASL, explore hidden gems both on and off campus, and show Tiger spirit. The final set of videos parodied movie trailers and introduced overarching messages about being a student at RIT. “In In the Brick of Time, Dr. Munson goes back to school to earn his degree,” said Daniel Swinton ’04 (film and animation), assistant director in University Creative Services. Swinton, who wrote and directed the last four videos, worked closely with videographer (and Munson stuntman) Boris Sapozhnikov ’23 MS (media arts and technology) and producer Tristan Walker. “Dr. Munson wore the costume (a flannel shirt and jeans) underneath his gown at new student convocation, and then he took the gown off,” said Swinton. “It was his idea to tie it together and make the transition from video to the stage. The students went crazy.” In the Brick of Time was a hit. The next year, Swinton created Raiders of the Golden Brick followed by The Wonderful Wizard of RIT. In this 2021 video after the COVID-19 pandemic, the Munsons encourage new Tigers to explore the campus. Torres, a third-year student in the School of Individualized Study and one of Munson’s Performing Arts Scholars, played the Cowardly Lion in The Wonderful Wizard of RIT. Munson handpicked Torres for the part and selected students for the Scarecrow and Tin Man roles after seeing them act in campus productions. The Wizard of Oz is Munson’s favorite film, and he once played the Tin Man in a theatrical production. It seemed to be a fitting finale, Swinton said. The Wonderful Wizard of RIT proved to be the most ambitious movie Swinton and his crew made for Munson. It required a large cast in the quiet month of July, many props, complicated special effects, and a script that reassured students there is “no place like RIT.” The layering of details extended to the musical score. Colin O’Brien, a fourth-year film and animation major, set Swinton’s lyrics to his original composition. A new era of creativity and innovation is about to dawn at RIT, and the Munsons help unlock the secrets of an ancient legend in this 2023 video. “I know when new students arrive on campus, as well as their parents, there is a lot of apprehension,” Munson said. “‘Can I cut it? Am I going to make friends? Do I belong here?’ And Nancy and I wanted to make the statement that, ‘Yes, there is no place like home, and home is going to be RIT.’” The Munson videos replayed at open houses for prospective students and their parents and circulated on social media. They also reached the wider RIT community and leadership at other universities. Munson met with alumni at a “fireside chat” in Boston hosted by Jim Salzano ’87 (accounting), CEO of Jones & Vining Inc. Salzano presented Munson with a pretend Oscar award for his accomplishments at RIT. “Dr. Munson made himself accessible through his videos and that gave students permission to feel vulnerable at RIT. That’s a great leader,” said Salzano, the 2023 Distinguished Alumnus from Saunders College of Business. Vulnerability is part of the learning process and leads to growth. It’s an important message for students, said Salzano, who sits on the RIT President’s Roundtable and chairs the Saunders College of Business National Council. “If you’re not vulnerable, you’re not going to ask questions in class,” Salzano said. “You’re not going to say you need help with your studies. You’re not going to delve into something outside your comfort zone.” The videosPresident’s Pre-Orientation Prep List (2018) Things to Do at RIT (2019) A Presidential Welcome to a Record-Breaking Class (2021) In the Brick of Time (2022) Raiders of the Golden Brick (2023) The Wonderful Wizard of RIT (2024)Note: The Munson video series paused in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. To watch the videos, go to rit.edu/munson-videos.
- Two College of Science students earn Goldwater ScholarshipsTwo RIT undergraduates have earned prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarships to support their research to find better medical treatments. Grace Perna, a third-year biotechnology major from Clifton Park, N.Y., and Eva Reilly, a second-year biochemistry major from Erie, Pa., both study in labs that aim to find better solutions for a range of diseases. The Goldwater Foundation awarded 1,350 students across 445 academic institutions this year after receiving more than 5,000 applications. The award gives support to outstanding undergraduate students interested in pursuing research careers in science, engineering, and mathematics. Perna is working in the lab of Lea Michel, professor in the School of Chemistry and Materials Science. She is currently researching extracellular vesicles and testing their antimicrobial efficacy. She is no stranger to research. Perna started her academic career at Binghamton University where she investigated dual-loading nanoparticles with antibiotics to try to better eradicate biofilms. Last summer, she received funding to conduct research in biocatalysis at California Institute of Technology. While she grew up wanting to be a lawyer, Perna shifted to science after being diagnosed with chronic illness in high school, as she wanted to understand her condition more and improve treatment methods. She originally majored in neuroscience before transferring to RIT in 2023 to pursue biotechnology. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in either biochemistry or immunology in the future. “I love the intersection between infectious disease and the immune system,” said Perna. “What I love most about RIT is my program’s ability to incorporate hands-on and laboratory approaches to learning while maintaining creative freedom.” Reilly credits excellent high school science teachers for getting her interested in biology and chemistry. Her two older sisters were RIT students (Erin with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 2020 and Emily with a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology in 2022), but she didn’t think she would follow them to Rochester. In the end, though, it was the right fit for her, too. In the lab of Suzanne O’Handley, associate professor in School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Reilly is currently researching enzymology and characterizing enzymes as potential novel antibiotic targets. Specifically, she is studying enzymes that are found in the bacteria that causes tuberculosis and leprosy. She also is a learning assistant, which has helped show her that she would like a career as a professor to continue teaching and conducting research after earning a Ph.D. As a student-athlete on the cross country and track and field teams and member of other student organizations, Reilly has learned how to manage her time while keeping her aspirations in sight. “The Goldwater application process really helped me narrow down my goals and understand what I want to do,” said Reilly. “It gives me more confidence that science is something that I can contribute to.” The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 in honor of its namesake who served as a soldier and statesman for more than 50 years. The organization aims to produce high-quality professionals in critical fields by providing scholarships to college sophomores and juniors working toward careers in research.
- Alumna brews success at Keurig Dr PepperCreating a soft drink involves teamwork. A diverse set of skills, from packaging to product development, is essential for success in the consumer products industry. Anna Valentine ’17 (packaging science) is acquiring a rich package of skills in that industry as a principal scientist on the Research and Development (R&D) Breakthrough Development team at Keurig Dr Pepper, based in Frisco, Texas. “About a year ago, I transitioned into product development, where I now focus on the beverage inside the package. We research and create various product concepts, collaborating closely with our R&D peers to conduct consumer testing and technical validation before these products reach the market,” said Valentine, who has been with the company for seven years. “This position has allowed me to leverage my background in packaging, process, and strategic upfront thinking while gaining new knowledge around ingredients and beverage types.” Her journey to that world began as an RIT undergraduate, where Valentine combined her passion for math and art in a program that emphasizes building technical, communication, and design skills needed to produce a packaged product. This program also provided her with an understanding of logistical details related to manufacturing, transportation, and distribution. Her varied roles and responsibilities within Keurig Dr Pepper are taking advantage of that skillset. She started her career working on secondary and tertiary packaging, focusing on the design and assessment of Keurig K-Cup cartons. In 2018, Keurig Dr Pepper formed, and Valentine transitioned from her R&D role to supply chain and primary packaging. “It was a great experience to work directly with production lines and understand how the packages we create impact operations, line speeds, and change overs,” said Valentine. The experience was beneficial, allowing her to see how design choices affect down- stream processes and emphasizing the importance of bringing the full team together earlier to enable speed and success. Now as a principal scientist, Valentine does both packaging and product development. Packaging is more than a box or a bottle. Graduates can apply their skills in various industries, from food and beverage to healthcare or toys, she said. “I have peers at Keurig Dr Pepper working in materials science, sustainability, and packaging design and development. I have even ventured into product development. All of these roles are needed at companies.” In the next few years, Valentine hopes to add new leadership responsibilities that will further her role at Keurig Dr Pepper. “I believe that a key to success is maintaining a growth mindset and eagerly embracing new opportunities.”
- ‘Rochester History’ explores deaf spaces in 19th-century New YorkBuoyed by a partnership between RIT and the Rochester Public Library, the Rochester History journal has a new look and a growing readership. The journal’s 21st-century makeover is turning heads and winning accolades and grant funding. While the first issue published 86 years ago, the journal’s 2023 redesign and digital presence led, this March, to a prestigious award from the Association of American Publishers. Rochester History won a Professional and Scholarly Excellence (PROSE) award for “Best New Journal in Humanities and Social Sciences.” RIT Tamar Carroll, RIT history professor, is on the editorial board of the scholarly journal. “Preserving and expanding the knowledge of local history was Rochester City Historian Blake McKelvey’s goal in founding Rochester History in 1939, and that continues to be our mission today,” said Tamar Carroll, professor and chair of RIT’s department of history and journal editorial board member. The peer-reviewed journal publishes in fall and spring on a wide variety of topics and perspectives related to Rochester, Monroe County, and Western New York. It is produced by the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County in partnership with RIT, published by the RIT Press, and digitally formatted by Mason Digital. RIT won grants to enhance the journal, including $5,000 from the J.M. McDonald Foundation and $20,000 from the Rochester Area Community Foundation’s Historic Preservation Fund. The financial support funds the digital edition and a marketing campaign to increase subscribers, according to Carroll. “Our goal is to have enough subscribers to make the journal break even with the costs of producing it.” The spring issue, edited by Christine Ridarsky, Rochester City Historian, and Rebecca Edwards, RIT professor of history, published April 15. A feature article, written by Edwards, highlights the deaf community in 19th-century New York told through the life of a Black deaf man. An essay in this issue addresses the challenges of writing historical sketches, such as Edwards’, when the public record is incomplete. The journal also includes book reviews and a feature essay about a rare photograph from the Rochester Public Library’s Local History Division of a Civil War solider wearing a Zouave uniform popularized by French-Algerian infantry. Edwards will present a live-streamed talk, “Exploring the Roots of Rochester’s Deaf Community,” at 1 p.m. on May 10 at the Central Public Library, Gleason Auditorium. Provided Will Rooney is a graduating senior and RIT history major. He is the research assistant for the spring issue. “It’s a reminder of the persistent discrimination that deaf/hard-of-hearing and disabled people have faced throughout history and the importance of public services for people with disabilities, educational opportunities, and efforts to combat stigma,” Carroll said. “And that is just as relevant today as it was in the 19th century.” Research assistant Will Rooney, a fourth-year history major and graduating senior from Fairfield, Conn., created a digital story map for Edwards’ article tracing the man’s travels throughout New York and interviewed the author for a podcast available on the digital edition. Rooney’s contribution to the journal has given him insights about how professional historians work. “It has really lifted the curtain and allowed me to see how academic writing gets published and the work that it takes to create a piece of professional history writing.” Among the book reviews is a critique of Tourists and Trade by Bruce Austin, the late RIT professor of communication and former RIT Press director, who initiated the collaboration between RIT and the Rochester Public Library to publish and expand the journal. A tribute for Austin is planned for the fall issue, according to Carroll. “Bruce saw an opportunity for RIT Press to help the library by offering services that the library didn’t have access to—professional design work, copy editing, and the opportunity to have a digital edition,” Carroll said. “Also, by involving the history department we are able to give students an opportunity to work on the journal, which is an amazing professional experiential learning opportunity for them.” Become a subscriber to Rochester History for $15.50 per year. (The digital edition of Rochester History can be read for free on the RIT campus.)
