If you spotted Nick Leiserson out of context, he would probably be wearing a T-shirt with a snarky, self-absorbed phrase on it, something along the lines of, “You are all my minions,” or “You’re blocking my light.” And you would probably shake your head at the arrogance of such statements and of the young man who boldly declares them. The truth is, though, that while Nick Leiserson is a proud individual, he’s probably earned the right to be so boastful—at least in some cases. A marvelously talented and learned singer with a unique-sounding voice, Nick made waves in Brown Opera Productions and Brown University Gilbert & Sullivan, two student groups that tackle performances of well-known operas and operettas. He had a distinct acting style as well that made him very popular for comedic roles. But his performance talent was not all that made him admirable. As president of BUGS, Nick was able to campaign for more allotted money from the Student Activities Office—money which would enhance the performances with more lights, props, costumes, and materials for the set. Furthermore, he was known practically as “the” tech guy for the group, often seen wearing a tool belt as he helped build the set, physically set up the lights, program the cues for the show, and attend student meetings to represent his group. His passion was unprecedented, and he truly did carry his obscure, lesser-known groups to a greater glory than they had seen before. Yes, he can be arrogant, but never in a way that belittles others; in fact, he is very encouraging of everyone who is involved in the groups, no matter how small their roles seem. For that and for everything he has done, he deserves a few amusingly self-centered T-shirts.
If you spotted Nick Leiserson out of context, he would probably be wearing a T-shirt with a snarky, self-absorbed phrase on it, something along the lines of, “You are all my minions,” or “You’re blocking my light.” And you would probably shake your head at the arrogance of such statements and of the young man who boldly declares them. The truth is, though, that while Nick Leiserson is a proud individual, he’s probably earned the right to be so boastful—at least in some cases. A marvelously talented and learned singer with a unique-sounding voice, Nick made waves in Brown Opera Productions and Brown University Gilbert & Sullivan, two student groups that tackle performances of well-known operas and operettas. He had a distinct acting style as well that made him very popular for comedic roles. But his performance talent was not all that made him admirable. As president of BUGS, Nick was able to campaign for more allotted money from the Student Activities Office—money which would enhance the performances with more lights, props, costumes, and materials for the set. Furthermore, he was known practically as “the” tech guy for the group, often seen wearing a tool belt as he helped build the set, physically set up the lights, program the cues for the show, and attend student meetings to represent his group. His passion was unprecedented, and he truly did carry his obscure, lesser-known groups to a greater glory than they had seen before. Yes, he can be arrogant, but never in a way that belittles others; in fact, he is very encouraging of everyone who is involved in the groups, no matter how small their roles seem. For that and for everything he has done, he deserves a few amusingly self-centered T-shirts.