Rachel Nicholas, Staff Writer
A bright and down-to-earth guide designed for students, in 2026, The Stall Seat Journal celebrates 25 years this year as “VCU’s #1 Toilet Paper.”
Spread out across the Monroe Park and MCV campuses, over 1,000 bathroom stalls are readily posted with health tips, safety information and where to find available resources.
Founded in 2001 as a health campaign from RecWell, the journal has produced many issues that blend humor and art — using illustrated “ramsonda” with distinct personalities and looks — to build relatable connections with the students.
“I think that the Stall Seat Journal is a really cool idea,” first-year criminal justice student Sasha Hoo said. “The art is super nice and it makes the information a lot more engaging. Plus, they stuck it in a spot where people couldn’t just throw it away.”
Hoo notes that her high school had a similar paper, however she believes the VCU journal has a lot more to offer in terms of style and substance matter.
“The student health and safety facts can be really beneficial for those who need them, and their information is definitely helpful to those who read them,” Hoo said.
Each issue is designed to cover important topics students may not know or even feel comfortable discussing, offering a sacred space for them to become informed.
Topics range from mental health discussions, substance usage and where to seek help, healthy eating habits, physical fitness and sexual safety.
The journal has been recognized by the Virginia PR association in recent years in the creative tactics category.
Part of the planning process for creating each issue begins in the summer, when staff reviews trends and data to decide on monthly themes. The academic calendar also plays an important role in timing out issues, including breaks and semester changes.
While the VCU journal’s core mission has stayed the same, its style and tone have evolved. The Ramsonas have grown from simply dressed mascots to reflecting the diversity of the readers.
“One of my goals with creating the illustrations is to make them bright and engaging,” Stall Seat Journal illustrator Emily Leary said. “Also, for students to feel represented when they see them —to sort of be engaged with these fun whimsical illustrations that attract them more to the information we’re trying to share.”
Leary, a VCU alum, got her start as a content creator for RecWell when she was a senior in 2022, gradually taking on more and more work as an illustrator.
Over the years, Leary has added her own artistic flair to the production of the journal, honing her signature style and leaving a modern mark across the page.
“I started out sort of not really knowing what style I wanted to go with while I was still a student,” Leary said. “But as I’ve done more illustrations, I have created my own style of the rams using different lines and colors. It also helps with keeping each issue consistent.”
Leary’s work continues to build on a prosperous idea started just over a decade ago with then RecWell director, Linda Hancock. Hancock had hired Emily Tompkins to create what would go on to become the first Stall Seat illustration – an ad for camping gear, according to Tompkins.
“I got hired for that and they paid me around $50,” Tompkins said. “I did that as a one-off as a student, and then they later hired a fellow classmate of mine to do the Ram illustrations.”
Tompkins later joined the journal as a part-time graphic designer and illustrator, one year after she graduated. She currently works on designing and putting together layouts in collaboration with Leary’s art.
When deciding what to put in the layout, Tompkins reviews a shared document containing a draft for that issue sent to her with information from RecWell’s health promotion team. Together with Leary, they begin the journal creation process, according to Tompkins.
“I share the document with Emily and she gets started on sketches while I dump everything into a design document,” Tompkins said.“We’ll have repeated Zoom meetings where we’ll go over everything and usually we have to cut a lot of text to fit everything. It’s like one big game of Tetris.”
After every kink has been ironed out, which roughly takes about a month, Tompkins then sends the final copy to print and out to the stalls.
As the Stall Seat Journal marks 25 years on campus, its presence remains as intentional as ever. It continues to quietly meet students where they are and offer information without judgment.
What began as a modest health campaign has evolved into a trusted and respected VCU staple that, in a place that is often overlooked, sparks awareness and reminds students of the support they have on campus — even in the most unexpected places.