Shafer Court connections

2009·3.7 MB·English

by  Virginia Commonwealth University. Office of Alumni Relations

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CIRCA University Student Commons: 2009
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2OO9, the
162,182-square-footUniversityStudent Commons
servesasthe centerfordailyactivities, meetings and events onthe Monroe
ParkCampusatVirginia CommonwealthUniversity. Outsidethe classroom,
an ever-growing student population gathers in the facility's indoor and
atdoorareasto meet friends, studyandgrab abite to eat.
Contents
[FEATURES]
8 > Presidential perspective
Eugene P. Trani. Ph.D., shares histhoughtson
Virginia CommonwealthUniversity'sgrowth
and its impact on the region.
12 > Familyties
FamilieswithmultipleVCUgraduatesreveal how
theiruniquelinkstrengthenstheirconnection
to one another.
22 -^ Scholarlypursuits
Endowedgifts contribute to studentsuccess and
\-rry-~ t-vri"^ ensure thatVCU'stradition ofexcellenceand
accessible educationcontinues.
[DEPARTMENTS]
> Circa
'm
UniversityStudent Commons: 2009.
5 ^ Universitynews
NoteworthynewsandresearchatVCU.
18 > Face to face
KarenVidetic talksabout usingfashion
asaservice-learningopportunity forstudents.
19 -* My college town
James River Film Festival catersto Richmond-area
cinemalovers.
20 * The bigpicture
ClassroomlessonsattheVCU Rice Centerexpand
to thewater's edge.
26 ^ Alumni connections
Thelatest news from thealumniassociation.
31 ^ Class notes
Updatesfromalumni, faculty, staffand friends.
37 "* Then and now
Barnes & Noble offersanewtextbookdefinition
ofcampusbookstores.
38 > Datebook
Upcominguniversityandalumnievents.
39 > Circa
UniversityStudent Commons: 1984-
Spring2009 i
1
VCUs
Building legacy through alumni engagement
With the retirement of President Eugene P. Trani,
Ph.D., your universityis assessingitspast, present and
future, inpreparationforwritingthenextchapterofits Spring 2009 • Volume 14, Number 2
history. In igyears, Dr. Trani'sleadership hasbrought www.vcu-mcvalumni.org
growth and change to campus and the community, and
his accomphshments and contributionsare featured in
AssistantVicePresident,
this issue. Wewish himtheverybest and thankhim for UniversityAlumniRelations
hisstellarservice. GordonA. McDougall
Beckoning to all of us is the opportunity to build
ExecutiveDirector,
on the legacy ofDr. Trani and other faculty, students, VCUAlumniAssociation
alumniandstaffwho'vecomebefore,aswewelcomeanew DianeStout-Brown(B.S.W, '80/SW)
presidentandrefreshourdedicationtoandsupportfor
Editorial
Virginia CommonwealthUniversity, KristenCaldwell(B,S, '94/MC)
Howmightwebestbuildonthatlegacy?1believethe
path requires us to work together to enhance alumni Design
TrinaLambert
engagement.
WTiat is alumni engagement? It's establishing the Photography
alumni associationasaprimaryconnectionforalumni Linda George
with the university, so that you can capitalize on the Production
university's role as a lifelong educational and social JessicaFoster
resource. It's also advancing the university by building active support, commitment and involvement Contributors
amongalumni, students, facultyandbusinessandcommunitypartners. Editorial: KelliAnderson.JenniferCarmean
Howwillwebuildalumniengagement?Thefirststep isto inviteyouandallalumnitojointhealumni (B,S, '98/H&S), TeriDunnivant, ErinEgan,
association and actively engage in setting our goals and objectives. We're creating several opportunities PollyRoberts, MelanieIrvinSolaimani
to allowalumnito interactwiththeassociationandtheuniversity. (B,S. 'ge/MC), KimWitt
We're improving ourWeb site, www.vcu-mcvalumni,org, and expanding the networking and services Design:PamelaArnold(B.F.A. '87/A),Nathan
availableforallalumni,particularlyactive, dues-payingmemberswhoprovideessentialfinancialresources Hanger(B.S. 'oi/MC), HaleyHollenbach
tofundstudentandalumnioutreachandsupport. (B,F,A. 'Ol/A), KatieMcBride(B,F,A. 'oVA),
We're also increasing our presence on social networks such as Facebook and Linkedin, as well as MatthewPhillips(M,F.A. 'Sy/A). Shannon
expandingouractivitiesandprograms,bothon- andoff-campus, toengagemorealumniinthefullrange Williams
ofintellectual, service, networkingand Ramspiritopportunitiesavailable. Photograph)':VCU Libraries—Special
Please reviewthe reunion information and other programming featured in this issue and come back CollectionsandArchives,AllenJones
to campusto renewfriendshipswith fellowalumni andmeet andgreet the faculty members and students (B,F,A, '82/A; M,F,A, 'g2/A),TomKojcsich
who arekeepingtheRamspiritaliveandwell! ShaferCourtConnectionsispublished
VCUisachievingrecognitionforitshigh-qualityprogramsandfacilitiesandhasalottoofferalumni. semiannuallybytheOfficeofAlumniRelations
Yourcontinuinginvolvementwiththeuniversityiscriticaltobuildingandmaintainingthetypeofeduca- andVCU CreativeServicesforVirginia
tionalenvironmentthatleadsto sustainedexcellence. CommonwealthUniversity'salumni, faculty,
Youralumniassociationisyourprimaryconnectiontoalifetimeoflearningandengagement.Weneed smtaagffazainndefdrioenndost.nOepceisnsiaorinlsyerxepprreessseendtitnhotsheis
youtobeanactive memberofthe team! oftheuniversityormagazinestaff.
YoursforVCU, Sendaddresschangestothe OfficeofAlumni
Relations,VirginiaCommonwealthUniversity,
g24.W. FranklinSt., P,0. Box84304.4,
Richmond,VA23284-3044.; telephone
GordonA. McDougall (804) 828-25861 vcu-alum@vcu,edu
AssistantVice President, UniversityAlumniRelations orwww,vcu-mcvalumni,org.
gamcdougall(5Vcu,edu
LetterstotheeditorshouldbesenttoShafer
CourtConnections,VirginiaCommonwealth
University, 827W, FranklinSt,. P,0, Box
P.S. Help us keep our communications streamlined and green. Register your e-mail address 842041. Richmond,VA23284-2041, or
www.vcu-mcvalumni.org. e-mailshafercourt@vcu,edu. Pleaseinclude
yourname, addressandadaytimephone
number; anonymousletterswillnotbe
published. Lettersmaybeeditedforclarity
orspace.
Onthe cover aCrotnwtorrikbuatrieowneslcofomaert,ichloesw,evpehro,toSshaafnedrCourt
VirginiaCommonwealthUniversityPresident Connectionsacceptsnoresponsibilityfor
EugeneP.Trani.Ph.D..andthePauleyPavilion, unsoliciteditems,
hometothedaVinciCenterforInnovation
inProductDesignandDevelopment. A©n2e0q0u9a,loVpiprogritnuinaitCyo,mamfofinrwmaetailvethactUinoinveurnsiivteyni.ity. 080923-02
4 VCUShaferCourtConnections
i
Virginia Commonwealth University
news
University news and research. For the
latest updates, visit VCU online
atwww.news.vcu.edu
VC "I ^es Central Michigan hea-^ >-^:-i--"i n-.„ „ ;.-. auu „,„.;,!„„i
The VCU Board ofVisitors announced in late Februai'y that Michael Rao. Ph.D., president of Electric trucks roll across carmous
CentralMichiganUniversity,willbeVCU'snextpresidentandpresidentoftheVCUHealthSystem. Aspartofapilotprogramtotestemissions
HealsowillbeatenuredprofessorintheSchoolofEducation. andcost-effectiveness, VCUpurchasedtwo
Rao, 42. comes to VCU with a broad range of educational experience, including sei'ving electric trucks that reduce greenhouse gas
as a president ofa large doctoral research university, university chancellor, president ofa two-year emissions by 99 percent when compared
collegeandacollegedean. with the diesel-powered Bobcat Toolcats
"Michael Rao's accomplishments are remarkable," saysVCU RectorTom Rosenthal. "Members alreadyinuseoncampus.
oftheboard, thepresidentialsearchcommitteeand others representinguniversitygroupswhohave The trucks — used for collecting trash,
met Mike are excited about the energy, recycling and maintaining the grounds on
enthusiasmandintelligence hewillbringto VCU's campuses — place VCU among the
VCU
asitsfifthpresident." 66 percent of universities nationwide that
The board's unanimous decision came
reportedusinghybridoralternative-energy
alter an extensive process that sought input vehicles in 2008. according to the College
fromtheentireuniversitycommunityabout SustainabilityReport Card.
VCU's future and the type of person who The trucks support VCU's sustainability
shouldbe itsnextpresident.A17-niember, initiatives as a signatory of the American
universitywide committee used that infor- College and University Presidents Climate
mationasitconductedanationalsearchand Commitment.TTiecommitment, whichVCU
toi-warded recommendations to the VCU signed in April 2008, is an effort among
BoardofVisitors. universities to address global warming by
"1 am truly honored to be appointed conducting a greenhouse gas inventory and
VCU's next president. This is the onlyposi- establishingatimeline forachievingcarbon
tionIhavepursued, anditisbecauseVCU is neutrality.
acitdyy.n"aRmaioc asanyds.di"IvterissevuenriyvecrlseiatrytihnataVviCbUranits an"iInttiesgmraylhcopoemptohantesnutstaoifnabtihleitaycbaedceommiec,s
an institution of opportunity with great administrative, clinical, operational and
momentum. I am excited toworkwdthall its research activity VCU engages in every
stakeholderstocarrythatmomentumforward day," saysJacek Ghosh, who joined VCU
VreCsUearPcrehsilidbernatr-iealnecatttMhiechTaoemlpfktaion,sP-h.MDc.,CgarweeLtisbrIarrye,neanLudbkheerr, ausrwbeanfurlfeislelaarnchimunpiovretrsaintty,miwsistihohniagsh-aqluealaidtiyn,g aibnilSietyp.te'mIbweoru2ld00l8ikeastdoirseecetosrusotfaisnuasbtialiint-y
colleagues(fromleft)ShannonJones,headofOutreach well-integrated academic programs and a becomeingrainedinVCU'sDNAasamatter
Services,andBarbaraWright,referenceserviceslibrarian, pre-eminentacademic medicalcenter. " ofcourse."
ataMarch5campusforum. Rao vdll officially take the helm of the TheVantageElectricTruckAll
university onJuly I when Eugene P. Trani, trucksupportsVCU'spursuit
Ph.D., retires from the positions ofVCU president and president and chair ofthe VCU Health ofasustainablecampus.
System. TraniwillremainatVCUasuniversitydistinguished professor.
Rao has served as president and professor at Central Michigan University since 2000.
CMU, located in Mount Pleasant, Mich., is a public doctoral research institution wit
28.000 studentsandanoperatingbudget of morethan $400 million.
Acclaimed debut novelist speaks about his literaryjourney
In November, Travis Holland accepted the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award
andparticipatedinaforumdiscussionaboutthejourneyofhiscriticallyacclaimed
debutnovel, "TheArchivist'sStory," publishedin 2007-
Inspired by Isaac Babel, one ofRussia's greatest short-storywriters, who was
executed by the Stalinist regime, Holland captures the atmosphere ofMoscowat
theendofthe1930s.Thenovelfollowstheethicalandmoraldilemmasofthemain
character, anarchivist at the Lubyanka Prisonwho is chargedwith cataloging (and
ultimatelyincinerating) theworksofwriterswhohavebeendenouncedandarrested.
The VCU Cabell First Novelist Award celebrates the VCU M.F.A. in Creative
—
Writing Program's yearlong novel workshop the first in the nation and still one
ofthe fewinexistence.
Spring2009 5
I
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[university news]
^^^
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Bill Cosbv kick"^ off lecfure series Designed with input from more than 600
doctors, nurses, staffmembers andpatients, the
Entertainer Bill Cosby spoke to an enthusi- 15-level, 367,000-square-foot Critical Care
astic VCU audience in December at the Alltel Hospital increases the medical center's capac-
Pavilion of the Stuart C. Siegel Center. The ity fortreatingseriouslyill and injured patients
event culminated a series of celebrations this and includes intensive care units for surgical
past fall recognizing VCU's 40'^ anniversary trauma, neonatal, cardiac, neuroscience and
andwasthefirstpresentationinthenewlyestab- oncology, as well as the Evans-Haynes Burn '%
?>>
lishedL. DouglasWilderLectureshipSeries. Center.Thelargestcapitalconstructionproject 41
Named for the former Richmond mayor in the history ofthe VCU Medical Center, the ^
and formerVirginia governor, and made pos* $184 million Critical Care Hospital houses 232 .
sible by a gift from Dominion Resources, the adult patient beds, increasing the medical cen- romMylarsheetsandglue,"Untitled
WadiinsldtdiensrgpurLiiesnchgetdusreepmreowsfitelelsrs.obreWiipnlrdeetshree,ntVwedChoUevaeClrseyontfisaelrla tpeerr'csernattitooo7f0prpievracteentto.semiprivatebedsfrom37 (ctaMhlyellsafrTi)ae,lrda2s0Do0ofn8co"ov,ianlntl'eussmtpr"adotarezaszrlwiyhnagstcbuotlhdpeytuMorafecwAaornrtdkhiutnhrsattFaolwilulanltdieaonntriifoconhr
for Public Policy, was instrumental in bring- Art alumna receives 'genius grant' yearstocome."
ingCosbytoVCU, andhewillcontinueto help
identifyspeakersforfutureserieslectures. SculptorandVCUSchooloftheArtsgradu- bring wonder to the most common objects of
ate Tara Donovan (M.F.A. '99/A) won the everydaylife. Donovan's site-specific, sculptural
Hospital fills a critical need in Va. bpreecsotmigiinogustheMatchAirrdthfuorrmeFrelVlCowUshsitpudiennt2t0o0w8i,n winotroksinttrraingsufiongrmviosrudalinaanrdypahcycsuimcaullaitnestdalmlaatteiroinasl.s"
Virginia's only hospital devoted solely the award inthe past fiveyears.
tatotchreitVicCalUcaMreediwcasaldCeednictaetre.d in October 2008 namDeodnoivnanSewpatsemobneer.ofE2a5chMgarcaAnrtthwuirnnFeerllwoiwlsl VCU, W&M partner on life sciences
receive $500,000 over the course offive years InJanuary, The College ofWilliam &. Mary
with no obligations on howthe money isspent, and VCU announced a partnership that pools
providing honorees with a large measure of the researchandexpertiseoftheirenvironmen-
freedom toadvance theirwork. talscienceprograms.
TheJohn D. and Catherine T. MacAi^thur Under the agreement. William &. Mary's
FoundationFellowshipsareawardedannuallyto Center for Conservation Biology, best known
individuals from a variety offields throughout for its workwith bald eagles and ensuring sus-
the U.S. Fellows are selected for their "creativ- tainability ofbird populations, wdll draw on its
ity, originality and potential." The award is extensive academic programs in biology, bio-
often referredto asthe "geniusgrant. " science and computational modeling, while
Donovanwasthesubjectofasoloexhibitatthe providingacloseconnectionwiththeconsider-
Metropolitan Museum ofArt in NewYork City able expertisewithintheVCU IngerandWalter
lastyear and recentlycompleted a major exhibit Rice CenterforEnvironmentalLifeSciences.
attheInstituteofContemporaryArtinBoston. The collaborationwillbe namedthe College
In awarding a fellowship to Donovan, the of William &. MaryA^irginia Commonwealth
MacArthur Foundation noted that she ""is an University Center for Conservation Biology
_.nticiji '^fjn.: HospitalattheVCU MedicalCenter inventive young sculptor whose installations at theVCURice Center.
Faculty honors
M.NjeriJackson,Ph.D.,special assistantfordiversity intheOffice The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies elected
ofthe Provost and associate professor in the Department of African Joseph Ornato, M.D., professor and chair of the Department
American Studies and the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government of Emergency Medicine, to its member ranks.
and Public Affairs, received the 2008 Women of Color Professional
Achie.ernent Recognition Award from the Women's Caucus for TheAmerican Association fortheAdvancementofScience named
Political Science. two VCU professors as Fellows: Audrey Smedley, Ph.D., profes-
sor emeritus of anthropology with a joint appointment in African
The American Physical Society elected Alenka Luzar, Ph.D., American Studies, and Sarah Spiegel, Ph.D., professor and chair
professor in the Department ofChemistry,to the status of Fellow. ofthe Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
June Nicholson, associate director and associate professor in the David Wojahn, director of the creative writing program in the
School of Mass Communications, received the 2008 Robert P. Knight Department of English, received a 2009 Outstanding Faculty Award
Multicultural Reciuii.ment Award from the Association for Education from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and the
in Journalism and Mass Communication. Dominion Foundation.
6 VCUShaferCourtConnections
i
"One ofthe priorities ofmy administration Research repor:
hasbeentoworkcollaborativelywithTheCollege
ofWilliam & Mary and this agreement brings
togethertwoverystrongareasofexpertise," says
VCUPresidentEugene P. Trani, Ph.D. neai-i Irogen
Lastyear, VCU andWilliam &. Mary created Scientists at Penn State University and VCU have discov-
the VCU-William & Mary Health Policy and
eredawaytoproducehydrogenbyexposingselectedclusters
Law Initiative, which draws on faculty from the
of aluminum atoms to water. The findings demonstrate that
two institutions to conduct research, provide
public service and offerjoint degree programs it is the geometries of these aluminum clusters, rather than
that focuson solvingtopicalproblems inhealth solelytheirelectronicproperties,thatgovernthe proximityof
policy, lawandbioethics. the clusters' exposed active sites.
Supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research,
theteam, which includes VCU physics professorShiv Khanna,
Ph.D.,andpostdoctoralassociateArthurReber,foundthatthe
aluminum clusters react differently when exposed to water
depending on their sizes and their unique geometric struc-
tures. Three of the aluminum clusters produced hydrogen ShivKInanna,Ph.D.
from waterat room temperature.
"Traditional techniques forsplittingwaterto produce hydrogen generally require a lot
of energy at the time the hydrogen is generated. But our method allows us to produce
hydrogen without supplying heat, connectingto a battery or addingelectricity. Oncethe
aluminum clusters are synthesized, they can generate hydrogen on demand without the
need to store it," Khanna says.
Gene discovery could lead to new cancer therapies
SARI, a new anti-tumor gene identified by VCU researchers, suppresses the growth
and survival of tumor cells by interfering with the action of cancer cell molecules that
drivecell division and promotesurvival.
SupportedbygrantsfromtheNational InstitutesofHealth,theSamuelWaxmanCancer
Research Foundationandthe National FoundationforCancerResearch,theinvestigators
delivered SARI to cancer cells using a virus, and the infected cancer cells subsequently
VCUandWilliam&Marybeginapartnershipin stopped dividing and died. As 90 percent ofall cancertypes rely on a similar mechanism
conservationbiology.Picturedclockwisefromtop to proliferate and evade destruction, researchers noted that SARI could be an effective
left:LeonardSmock,Ph.D..director,VCURiceCenter, anti-cancertreatmentfor manytumors.
BryanWatts.Ph.D..director.William& MaryCenter "We have uncovered a new way by which interferon can induce anti-tumor activity.
forConservation Biology;Mitchell Byrd,Ph.D., The identification of SARI also provides a new potential reagent for the selective killing
chancellorprofessoremeritusofbiologyatWilliam of tumor cells," says lead investigator Paul B. Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D., professor and chair
&&MMaarryy;;aTnaydloErugReenveeleP.y,TrJa.nDi.,,Pphr.eD.s,idpernets,idWeinltl,iVamCU. oofftMhoeleDceuplaarrtMmeednitcionfeHiunmtahenVaCndUMSoclheocoullaorf GMeedniectiinces.aSnudbtdriarcetcitoonrhoyfbtrihdeizVaCtiUon,Inastpitouwt-e
Heart center uses new imagingtoo erful technique pioneered in Fisher's laboratory, uncovered SARI.
Next, the team plans to develop improved approaches to more effectively target the
The VCU Pauley Heart Center is the first deliveryofSARI.
in the U.S. to use theVivid i system, a new type
of intracardiac uhrasound machine that pro-
contirms power scan as an imaginj
duces enhanced imaging ofthe heart, allowing
cardiac electrophysiologists to better diagnose A nationwide study involving VCU researchers confirmed the effectiveness of positron
andtreat atrialfibrillation. emissiontomography(PET)scansin monitoringtumoractivityacrossarangeofcancers.Thi
Affecting more than 2 million Americans,
resultscould lead toexpanded Medicare coveragefor PET scans in diagnosing, stagingand
atrial fibrillation interferes with the heart's
abilitytoefficientlypumpblood,whichcanlead restagingall cancers.
Researchersreported resultsbycancertypefortwoyearsofdatacollectedfromnearly
toclotsandpossiblyastroke.
41,000 PETstudies conducted at more than 1,300 cancercenters nationwide and found
"It gives us spectacular images of the heart,
our catheters in the heart and the structures the impactof PETdid notvary significantly amongcancers.
in the heart and helps us do an even betterjob "As a result, we believe that coverage for PET in the staging, restaging and detec-
of ablating atrial fibrillation more safely and tion of recurrence of cancer should be handled the same across the board," says Bruce
more effectively." says Kenneth Ellenbogen, E. Hillner, M.D., professor of medicine at the VCU Massey Cancer Center and lead
M.D., professor of cardiology and director author of the article, published in the December issue ofThe Journal of Nuclear Medi-
of the cardiac electrophysiology lab at the cine. Hillnerservesaschairofthe National Oncologic PETRegistry,which ensuresaccess
VCUMedicalCenter. to Medicare reimbursementforcertaintypes of PETscans. ;
wmm.
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Eugene Trani
P.
reflects on his 19-year tenure as
the university's visionary leader
enucL eciwe
/-^e^Lcii ii
//
a noted hidtiora 6cnotar
and autnor woiiict mahe nistori IumSe
With the nation's college and university presidents serving on average
8.5 years, according to the American Education Council, the
19-year presidency of Eugene P. Irani, Ph.D., represents one
of the longest tenures of any university system president
in modern times. Virginia Commonwealth University benefited
VCU
from Dr. Trani's longevity as he led through a strategic
transformation, building the university into a major urban
research institution and the largest university in Virginia.
As he prepares to retire as president of VCU and president
and chair of the VCU Health System, Dr. Irani shares his
thoughts on the university's growth and its impact throughout
the region since he arrived on campus in 1990.
(Firstrow,fromleft)FrancisL.Macrina, Ph.D.,VCUvicepresidentforresearch,Dr.Irani
andSheldon Retchin,M.D.,M.S.P.M.,VCU HealthSystemCEOandVCU HealthSciences
vicepresident•Virginia General Assemblyresolution commending Dr. Trani's leadership
•Hibbs Hall • Campaign for VCU celebration (Second row,from left) VCU School ofthe
Arts in Qatar • Monroe Park Campus Addition • VCU Commencement • Robert T. Skunda,
presidentandCEO,VirginiaBioTechnologyResearchPark,andDr.Irani(Thirdrow,fromleft)
Dr.IranionC-SPAN2'sBookIV-NovelistloniMorrisonandDr.Irani•Dr.Irani's"retired"jersey
in the Alltel Pavilion at the Siegel Center • VCU Critical Care Hospital (Fourth row, from left)
Dr.Irani'sinaugural address• Linden Court•VCU IngerandWalter RiceCenterfor Environmental
LifeSciences• Dr.Iraniand hiswife, Lois,withformer President Bill Clinton
Dr.IraniatVCU's40thAnniversaryinfall2008(center)celebratesthegrowthoftheuniversity,v^hichincludesmorethan$2.2
billionincapitalconstructionandrenovationprojectsontheMonroe ParkCampus(farleft)and MCVCampussince1990-
44
When met Dr. Trani in 1999, he ignited my passion to
I
become involved with my alma mater. Gene has trans-
formed VCU ... to the world-class healing, teaching,
research and residential university that we are today.
During your presidency, VCU set When I think about all the positive change that has taken
many enrollment records, and VCU place, realize that Dr Trani not only has reinvented VCU,
I
became Virginia's largest public uni-
but he has also had a material impact on changingthe face
versity. How has a growing student
population beenanassettoVCU,and of the city of Richmond. -RichardJ."Dick"Robertson(B.S.'67/MC) 9kWi
has a larger student body changed
the VCU experience?
It clearly has given us a critical mass to do Raisinginstitutional pridehasbeena pri- ifyou were atthe VCU-George Mason game,
differentthings — for example, a critical mass ority for your administration. What do which was on ESPN2, you really got a sense
of life science students and a critical mass of you think it meansto bea Ram today? for what it meansto bea Ram.They're proud.
engineering students. I think it has helped They're boisterous, but they're respectful.
our prestige within the commonwealth since I think it's much more meaningful. Certainly, There's just a great feeling. Our students
so many of our students are from Virginia. the only identification is not athletics, but have clearly rallied around our athletic teams
We have almost 600 freshmen from Fairfax
County this year and, therefore, can go into
I
theofficeofalmostany legislatorfrom Fairfax
County and they know all about VCU. They
didn't used to knowabout VCU.
Ifyouwereadvisingparentsofa17-year-
old student weighing college choices,
whatwould you tell them aboutVCU?
I would tell them it would be a real-world
experience. It's not isolated physically or
psychologically. We are in a great metro-
politan area with a diverse student body
that reflects what the United States looks
like — what the world looks like. And we
prepare our students for the world of work
— and we're very good at that. This is no
ivy-covered isolated place. VCU represents
the real world, and think our students are
I
ready to go out into that world when they
graduate.
10 VCUShaferCourtConnections
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