 He enjoyed being a professor, spending lecture breaks smoking and joking with his students.Also in 1990, Merrill College at UC Santa Cruz established Vito Russo House to promote Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender awareness and provide a safe and comfortable living environment for queer, straight-supportive and all students who value and appreciate diversity.The house tailors its programming to meet the needs of LGBT students and offers all an opportunity to build understanding and tolerance.