three technological drivers of economic growth in the New York metropolitan region: Information & Cybersecurity Energy & Green Technologies Bio-Engineering and Medical Devices The Empire State Development Corporation has provided seed funding for the initiative, which is supported by the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council. An Advisory Board made up of members of industry, government, and the venture capital community, has agreed to help NYIT create the center and work on its three focus areas create a high-tech teaching and research environment. Student life Traditions NYIT has few formal traditions, compared to many other universities, but has a rich culture of informal traditions and jargon. There are a few "big events" such as Commencement (graduation), but many smaller, decentralized activities sponsored by departments, labs, living groups, student activities, and ad hoc groups of NYIT community members united by common interests. Housing The Office of Residence Life and Off-Campus Housing at New York Institute of Technology caters for students living in residence halls and independently in housing off-campus. Student government NYIT's Student Government Association (SGA) is the official voice of the student body. The SGA advocates on behalf of student interests—academic, cultural, and social. It is charged with working with the college's faculty and administration to improve campus life. In addition, the SGA oversees the budgeting process for student clubs and organizations and supports a variety of campus-wide events. Student media LI News Tonight LI News Tonight is a nightly television newscast produced on the Old Westbury campus as both a community service to Nassau and Suffolk counties and an internship opportunity where students can learn about careers in television news. For more than 25 years, college interns have covered breaking news and feature events alongside reporters and photographers from professional news stations, with their work appearing that evening on a nightly TV newscast aired on a Long Island cable station. Globesville Globesville is NYIT's student-run web channel. It is an online network of students that uses the power of social media to integrate NYIT campuses, students and alumni from across the globe. The Globesville team creates and collects video and features which focus on the activities, interests, and goals of the NYIT community. Campus newspapers On the Old Westbury campus, NYIT students produce The Campus Slate, the student-run newspaper founded in 1966. The Campus Slate conducted interviews with celebrities such as Oscar-nominated actress Diane Lane and The Beach Boys.