Shane Wade
Opinion Editor
Two years might be a long time to wait for a mascot makeover, but VCU couldn’t have picked a better time to debut the new Rodney the Ram.
Rodney’s improved looks were a necessary change for our expanding university. VCU is looking to take on not just a new sports conference, but a new student populace and a new administrative environment. Not only will we be facing new teams in the coming months, but we’ll be entering a new strata of academic competitiveness.
Now, is that too much acclaim and extrapolation for a simple mascot? No. As simplistic and juvenile as it may appear, representation matters to the public, whether it’s prospective families or prospective professors. As much as our mascot physically represents us, we must also metaphorically represent our mascot. Just as Rodney now looks fresh, challenging and focused, so must our student body and administrative officials.
It’s easy to be dismissive of the symbolic value of mascots. It’s easy to criticize the university for even taking the time to facilitate the change. But, at a university that caters to 31,000 undergraduate, graduate and first-professional students, it is of paramount importance to keep student engagement and school spirit at a high level.
An active student populace is what keeps VCU from being a mere commuter school; that student population is kept active by an administration that’s supportive of student endeavors. Whether that support comes through funding, advisory staff or a fiercer mascot, it matters and makes a marked difference.
Granted, a new mascot won’t solve all our problems. We had six robberies last Monday and a home invastion two nights ago. A meaner-looking mascot isn’t going to help fight crime rates, but it shows how VCU is progressing and evolving as a university of (and for) it’s students. Rodney isn’t Batman, but the makeover shows that VCU’s administration is active, responsive and engaged in the student community.
If you need further proof of those qualities, look at the progress we’ve had just over the past year: We asked for more residence halls. We recieved West Grace South (and West Grace North next August), and to accompany that expansion, the Laurel Street parking deck was constructed. We asked for more dining options. Three more were added, with many slated for the coming years. We asked for a new mascot. Rodney the Ram looks stronger than ever.
There are a number of faults in the system when it comes to VCU, but every semester we see adjustments and improvements. We’re not the same school we were in the past, and our mascot, as well as our student body, needs to reflect that change. VCU listened to student input and met our expectations.
Let’s hope they can emulate that response in other aspects of student life. CT