By Vanessa Langdon
Staff Writer
As graduation looms 88 days away senior Derick Noetzel is ready to get into the ‘real world.’ Noetzel, 21, a communications major is a member of 2015 graduating class set to cross the stage on May 9.
The film and new media concentrator is a familiar face to anyone looking to sign out audio or visual equipment from the Hearst Center for Communications and Interactive Media on campus. He works as equipment manager checking in equipment and preparing it for student use.
“It has given me a lot of stress, happiness, and connections as well as allowed me to show people that I can work my ass off,” Noetzel said of the time consuming job. He professes he minors in “working many hours.”
Noetzel is originally form Oxford, NY and transferred to the College after achieving an associate’s degree from Broome Community College in Binghamton.
“I hadn’t discovered Saint Rose until I helped my girlfriend, Bonnie Mason, move in for her freshman year here. The second I got to the campus I fell in love with it,” Noetzel said.
He continued to visit the College once a month for three semesters before enrolling himself. A major draw to the school was the people, “My first friends here were in the music department and they were all so welcoming that it was hard to stay away.”
After an unfulfilling high school experience Noetzel hit the ground running in college.
“I know what I want and I’m learning how to make it happen each day,” Noetzel said.
After realizing that he wanted to be responsible for entertaining people he followed the money to behind the scenes work. He accredits the much of his success to Visiting Professor Liz Richards and Associate Professor Mary Alice Molgard.
“Liz has provided me with so much confidence, support, and positive feedback that I’m surprised my head didn’t explode,” Noetzel said of Richards.
Molgard forced Noetzel to apply himself and improved his writing more than anyone in his educational career. She also found him an internship that turned into his current job at MagicWig Productions as production assistant.
“I’m still at a loss for words as to how happy and lucky I feel because of it,” Neotzel said.
The professors at Saint Rose pushed Neotzel to work harder and longer.
“It may be a pain in the neck, or entire body if his assignments keep you up all night, but I’m applying his material to my every day life,” Noetzel said of Associate Professor Jin Kim.
According to Noetzel, Kim’s class was the hardest but most rewarding part of his college experience after earning a B in his communications theory class.
“If anyone got an A in that class they deserve a Nobel Peace Prize,” Noetzel said.
While the faculty changed a lot over his tenure here causing Noetzel to question if the Illuminati were involved he has found Saint Rose to be a friendly place.
“I try to make every day on campus a friendly one because there are so many people that have made it that way for me,” Noetzel said.
The feeling of friendliness is appreciated by Noetzel he wishes there was more collaboration between the film and new media side of the communications department.
The two groups do come together for Garage to Glory he hopes that collaboration can be expanded in the future.
“We are stuck in a building together and all we do is complain about each other,” Noetzel said.
Living on campus never agreed with Noetzel, who lived on campus his first semester at the College. The rules associated with on campus housing were too much for him.
“I can’t make mistakes if there are so many rules, and I need those to get better!”
Noetzel urges underclassmen to get off campus to experience what it’s like to not have a resident assistant there to help you.
“You’ll learn more about yourself and about the world that way,” Noetzel said.
Noetzel has never been one for campus clubs or activities he stays busy with his band, Blackout Las Vegas. Noetzel has played bass for the Albany and Saratoga based band since September 2013.
“Being in a band is harder than playing a sport. My body and mind get pushed to the limit when I play and it’s a great release playing in front of people,” Noetzel said.
He became involved with the band after drummer, and fellow film and new media concentrator at Saint Rose, Tyler Gereau told Noeztel of his involvement.
Noetzel was the last addition to the group comprised of Gereau on drums, Jake Carlini on lead vocals/synth, and Jake Flasser and Ben Carlini on guitar.
The group has 13 songs released and have played 10 shows in their year together.
“We don’t want to play too much and have it become repetitive, and we are all very busy people, so that doesn’t help either,” Noetzel said.
Blackout Las Vegas has a show slated for March 4 at Bogie’s on Ontario Street. Tickets can be purchased from Noetzel and Gereau.
“I would like to think I am ready for the real world,” Noetzel said. “I don’t know how to do my taxes so that’s probably something I haven’t been prepared for, but on a serious note Saint Rose has given me many connections, and in the A/V business, without connections, you’re dead.”
