Category Archives: schools

St. Andrew’s School Name The Otters Contest

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From the St. Andrew’s School website:

Why Choose The River Otter As The St. Andrew’s School Mascot?

River otters are smart, friendly, playful and energetic. They are curious and constantly learning. They are warm and take care of each other. Plus they are amazing swimmers and athletic. Since the school is near the James River, the mascot says a little bit about our location, as they do live in the James. Because they like clean water, they are also a sign of a very healthy environment.

Do you have any name suggestions for our new school mascot?

Click here to enter the contest.

Volunteers Earn Gratitude For Their Efforts

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Echoing Debbie’s comment, thanks to the VCU Paint the Town Green initiative for yesterday’s neighborhood cleaning. Here’s a photo of the trash collected:

Some of the student volunteers, along with soldier volunteers from Ft. Lee, deserve extra credit for helping pick up bottles and litter that were thrown off the Overlook after already working their way down Pine Street.

After Painting The Town Green, Check Out The World In Monroe Park

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It’s not too late to make plans to join VCU’s Paint The Town Green effort this Saturday morning.

Afterwords, you may think about enjoying the VCU Intercultural Festival, which takes place from 12 noon to 6 pm in Monroe Park.

Given the protest the day before, it is pretty clear that Monroe Park is getting a lot of use. I will just add the editorial comment that it would be good to see its planned renovations funded.

VCU SDS: “Defend Your Right to Peaceful Assembly and Protest”

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From a statement for the VCU Students for a Democratic Society:

VCU recently proposed amendments to its student code of conduct. The proposed rules prohibit demonstrations that disrupt the normal functions of the university, but the language is so vague that, if interpreted by a trigger-happy administrator, you could be punished for non-disruptively, peacefully, and legally exercising your First Amendment right to peaceable assembly and protest.

“Demonstrations/riot – Participating in an on-campus or off-campus demonstration, riot or activity that disrupts the normal operations of the University and/or infringes on the rights of others; leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal activities within any campus building or area.”

VCU is not alone in this crackdown on active citizens; measures are being taken to criminalize free speech throughout the city and country.

On the 3rd of March, 30 peaceful protesters were arrested by Virginia State Police in riot gear for sitting on the steps of the Virginia Capitol building. They were demonstrating for an end to anti-choice reproductive legislation. In a further attempt to scare citizens away from expressing their First Amendment right to peaceful assembly, the female arrestees were held for nearly nine hours in a paddy wagon and prevented access to restrooms and drinking water.

In Georgia, members of the state legislature unsuccessfully attempted to restrict the right of protesters and union members with SB 469. The bill would have made it a felony to protest near a private business. Imagine being charged with a felony for simply holding a sign!

VCU’s Monroe Park is also significant. Last Spring, several activists were arrested for camping out on the corner of Main and Laurel in protest of City Council’s attempt to gentrify the park and criminalize homelessness. Later in 2011, members of Occupy Richmond were brutalized by Richmond police and denied access to Monroe Park after being forcefully removed from Kanawha Plaza, a camp that passed the City’s sanitation standards.

And so, we, the VCU chapter of Students for a Democratic Society are protesting today to publicly exercise and protect our freedom to peacefully assemble, to stand against the unjust and unprovoked attacks on civil disobedience, and to demand transparency in American society.

**This is an orderly, peaceful demonstration. We are practicing what we are trying to defend. Behavior that is harmful or disruptive to our fellow students or homeless won’t be tolerated.**

There is a Facebook page for a protest this Friday in Monroe Park at 1 pm:

https://www.facebook.com/events/429199907105958/

Paint the Town Green to beautify neighborhoods around VCU

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From Fan of the Fan’s post:

VCU students and neighbors will work together to beautify the neighborhoods around the college during Paint the Town Green this Saturday, April 14. Meet at in Monroe Park at 8:30AM for breakfast, community service projects begin at 9AM. Participating neighborhoods include Jackson Ward, The Fan, Oregon Hill, Randolph, and Carver.

All of the volunteers assembled at Monroe Park before breaking up into teams to work in neighborhoods surrounding campus. Photo by John Venuti. (Paint the Town Green 2011)

“We hope to have close to 500 volunteers this time,” said program director and Community Coordinator, Ron Brown. “This year we have partnered with more neighborhoods [including Jackson Ward] and the City of Richmond’s Love My Block initiative,” said Brown. This year’s Paint the Town Green Event will include both the Monroe Park and Medical campus. To register for the event or for more information, email neighbors@vcu.edu.

Paint the Town Green, a community service and partnership initiative, is held tentatively on the second Saturday of every April and October. Paint the Town Green is sponsored by the VCU Council for Community Engagement, the neighboring VCU communities, the Monroe Park and MCV Student Government Associations and The Alumni Association.

Submitted by Jose Menjivar

VCU Lecture: Jerusalem: A Tale of Three Cities

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From announcement:

VCU professor Dr. Jack D. Spiro will give the 27th Annual Brown-Lyons Lecture, titled “Jerusalem: A Tale of Three Cities,” on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Avenue. Dr. Spiro will investigate memories, practices, literary sources, values and beliefs to uncover the diverse meanings of Jerusalem in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, in addition to shedding light on the controversial issue of Jerusalem as the unified capital of Israel. A public reception will be held immediately following the lecture. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Dr. Jack D. Spiro holds the Harry Lyons Distinguished Chair in Judaic Culture at Virginia Commonwealth University. He is also director of the VCU Center for Judaic Studies and editor of its online publication, Menorah Review. He has earned two doctorates from the Hebrew Union College and the University of Virginia. He has authored, co-authored or edited over 30 books and written numerous articles.

The event is sponsored by the VCU Friends of the Library, the VCU Center for Judaic Studies, the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond, the Richmond Jewish Foundation and the Weinstein JCC. It is free and open to the public, but because seating is limited, registration is required. For details and registration, please see the event website: http://www.library.vcu.edu/events/blyons/. For special accommodations or to register offline, please call (804) 827-1165 or (804) 828-0593 prior to March 27. Event parking is available for a fee in the West Main Street and West Cary Street parking decks.