Biographical/Historical Information:
In January, 1967, eight Rochester undergraduates met to create a constitution for a proposed Rochester Area Intercollegiate Student Association (RAISA). Those students were: Ray E. Baker (Rochester Institute of Technology), Jerry Eckert (St. John Fisher), Ralph Huninger (SUNY Brockport), Art Brown (Roberts Wesleyan), Joan Mascaro (Nazareth), Joe O'Brien and Mike O'Connor (Monroe Community), and Greg Talcott (SUNY Geneseo). RAISA would be open to area undergraduates. The constitution lists four objectives: To discuss and act upon common problems of local and national origin as related to member schools. To discuss and act upon common problems of member schools. To promote mutually sponsored academic, cultural, and social events. To promote individual campus activities when requested. Each member school would contribute 2 delegates and 2 alternates to the Association. The original idea for the group was Jerry Eckert's, who contacted the other area student association presidents in the summer of 1966. RAISA was ratified in 1967, and Ray E. Baker was named first president. One of the first issues of concern to RAISA was the draft for the Vietnam War. RAISA was active throughout the 1960s.