Rodney rams the streets

Rodney the Ram might soon grace the streets around campus.

The Student Government Association’s “Ram the Streets” project proposes by spring to paint the school’s athletic logo on city streets surrounding campus. Pending final approval by the Richmond Department of Public Works, the Ram-head logo will appear at 10 major intersections on the Monroe Park campus.

Inspired by the University of Virginia’s campus design, deputy director of student affairs Bryan Banning proposed the project last year.

Although “Ram the Streets” will be paid for and maintained by the university, Richmond must grant permission for the painting of the streets.

“VCU works very closely with the surrounding community, and we wouldn’t do anything the city didn’t approve of,” SGA President Ali Faruk said.

Richmond City Councilman Bill Pantele of the 2nd District, which includes VCU’s campus, introduced legislation to make “Ram the Streets” possible.

“Generally speaking, the legislation sets out a number of rules on how a university principally located in the city can apply its logo in the public right of way so long as most of the properties on either side of the roadway are occupied by that university,” Pantele said. “In this way, VCU as well as the University of Richmond and Virginia Union University can take advantage of it.”

The amendment is currently on hold as the SGA and Richmond public works are negotiating terms so the project may proceed without legislation.

The original plan included the Medical College Campus as well, but the MCV student government chose not to participate.

Locations of VCU logo in Monroe Park Campus

1. Broad and Harrison
2. Broad and Belvidere
3. Franklin and Shafer
4. Park and Grove
5. Franklin and Laurel
6. Grace and Laurel
7. Floyd (between James Branch Cabell Library and the University Student Commons)
8. Main (between the Commons, Temple and Life Sciences)
9. Cary (between bricked walkway and Cary Street Gym)
10. Cary and Belvidere (next to new School of Business and School of Engineering building)

“As of now, this will not be pertaining to the medical campus. In fact, this idea has been very unpopular at the SGA meetings here,” MCV-SGA President Michelle Pohoreskey said. “The representatives have shown support for the Ram paintings on the Monroe Park Campus, but MCV, being a health-related campus, did not seem like a fit.”

SGA will coordinate with the Facilities Management Division to hire an outside contractor. The exact budget has not yet been set, but students will not foot the bill.

“VCU has a department for special projects. (The funding) is not coming out of student fees,” Banning said.