TL;DR

Interdisciplinary collaboration was the name of the game this year with Aurum, the collaborative VR experience between the Robbins Library and Studio X. Having made solid progress on gameplay, with two recipes and a full alchemy lab in-game, we turned to a new question: who exactly is this alchemist we play as? 

Professor Yukang Yan and students Tianyu Zhang ’29 and Sunniva Liu ’24 in his lab were frequent visitors to Studio X over the summer to work on a research project aimed at enhancing accessibility for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students during in-person lectures. Using AR technology and feedback from DHH students, Dr. Yan’s team developed a system that integrates real-time captions, highlighted slides, and keyword explanations, reducing cognitive load and improving the lecture experience.

Each October, as the leaves turn and the campus buzzes with Halloween excitement, the River Campus Libraries (RCL) hosts its much-anticipated Scare Fair, an annual celebration that brings students, staff, and spooky fun together under one roof. This year’s theme, Haunted Pirate Ship, transformed Rush Rhees Library into an eerie maritime adventure, complete with cobwebbed treasure chests, ghostly crew members, and a touch of library magic.

Saying that Liv Ritz ’25 has found a home at the River Campus Libraries during her time at the University of Rochester would be an understatement. Over the past four years, she has held two distinct roles within the libraries, where her creative talents and business acumen have left a lasting impact on several library social media profiles.

During Meliora Weekend, the buzz of excitement wasn’t just limited to reunions and performances—it extended into the Barbara J. Burger iZone, where over 200 students, alumni, and faculty immersed themselves in iZone’s 2nd Annual Escape Room Experience: Star-Stuck.

After reading an article in Review celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Department of Computer Science, an alumnus, Ronald Epp, recalled his time working in payroll, and ask when the University first began using computers for administrative purposes. You can read the answer here.

As the only space on campus open 24/7, Gleason Library is the most popular spot on campus during exam season, typically packed to the brim with noisy students studying at all hours of the day.

Most recently it has also become the best spot for hosting surprise birthday parties, as Kevin Hu‘ 25 discovered last month. 

After five years of development, the Middle English Text Series (METS) is thrilled to announce the launch of its new website and digital edition. This landmark digital resource, designed to improve access to Middle English and related literature, celebrates a modernized platform that will serve the needs of a growing global audience of students, scholars, and medieval enthusiasts.