It is actually much more recent than that.  Up until the mid 90s, RIT, Hobart, Clarkson, St. Lawrence and RPI were all members of the Empire Athletic Association together, with I believe Hartwick, Alfred and Ithaca.  I think it was around 1996 or 1997 that they all left to join the Liberty League and then the Empire 8 was born.

RIT can come in and be compete right away.  They always seem to have competitive teams - not great teams, but competitive teams.  They had a good run with the Jones kid in the late 90s ... and have probably been to the NCAAs a handful of times since then.

Not sure that the size of a school is as pertinent in college athletics as it is in high school.  In high school, especially at public schools, a larger school gives you that much more of a population pool to pick prospective athletes from.  However, in college, you recruit.

So although RIT may have more students, this only becomes an advantage if they have a significantly higher athletic budget - which I highly doubt is the case.  Given that they have a similar academic footprint as some of the other Liberty League schools ... as well as the common thread of a Division I team that garners the majority of attention on campus, I think their make-up is quite similar to members of this league. 

I do, however, agree that Bard is a reach unless they are ready to start supporting athletics.

Noticed this in the Sunday Democrat and Chronicle and it has kind of flown under the radar here:

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090606/SPORTS09/906060322/1007/SPORTS/RIT+joining+Liberty+League

Interesting that it was in the paper ... but nothing on RITs site or the Liberty League site.  Maybe due to the 'pending approval' caveat that was stated in the story.

I find it interesting that people on this board thought Naz or Ithaca were better fits.  I all along thought RIT was a better fit given the D1 hockey that many of the other schools share.  From a student-athlete perspective, I would think that RIT shares more in common with RPI, Clarkson, etc. than pretty much anyone in the Empire 8.  There were rumors they tried unsuccessfully to make the switch a few years ago ... I am surprised it took this long to find a new home.

Now the question is what does RIT do with some of their local rivalries?  UR will always stay on the schedule and them switching leagues does not impact basketball.  But without the Chase, do they try and keep an annual series with Fisher and Naz?  Cost wise it makes sense ... but I do not think RIT was ever a big fan of Fisher joining the Empire 8.  Maybe this gives them the ability to distance themselves a bit from them.

Will be interesting to see the reaction during their lame duck season forthcoming ...