Category Archives: schools

VCU Green Action! Demonstration Friday

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From VCU Green Action! invitation:

Hello All,

My student organization, Green Action!, is hosting a peaceful demonstration on Friday the 21st from 12-1, starting at the Compass and walking to President Rao’s office, where we will demand that the university begin to take climate change seriously, and I’m humbly asking you to attend.

VCU has a responsibility to its students, the greater Richmond area, and as an institution of higher learning wielding power in our society, to look out for our futures. Last semester, when faculty met with Rao’s administration about declaring a climate emergency, they said they didn’t want to get political. Our future isn’t political.

Please consider setting aside just an hour of your time. All you need to do is show up – the more people there are, the harder it will be for the administration to ignore us.

Thank you, first of all, for signing the petition to encourage President Rao to declare a climate emergency. Every signature matters, and we expect to reach our goal of 2,000 before earth Day! If you want to review the petition in detail, you can read it here. It includes nine action items that accompany the emergency declaration for VCU to accomplish.

Secondly, thank you for opening and reading this email. You’re a trooper for that.

I hope to see you on Friday the 21st at 12:00 in the Compass. You can follow @greeanactionrva on Instagram for reminders on when and where the protest will take place in the following week.

Let’s show Rao and his administration that student voices can’t, and won’t, be ignored.

Carolyn Hindle

Inflatable VCU Logo To Be Floated Over Monroe Park

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The Richmond Times Dispatch recently reported that Virginia Commonwealth University is planning to increase its visibility with larger signs around its campus.

“Beginning this fall, the university will install more of the large VCU letter signs that dot its campus. They are metal, bright yellow and roughly 7 feet tall. They let visitors know when they are about to enter campus, which is why VCU calls them “front doors” to the university.”

In a followup phone interview yesterday evening, VCU officials confirmed that there will be an additional element unveiled later in the year- an inflated medallion dirigible sign that will be floated hundreds of feet above Monroe Park.

“Having secured permission from the Mayor’s office, President Rao wants this to be a shining beacon that can be seen from 64 and 95, and both sides of the river” gushed a member of VCU’s publicity department.

While many college and universities have produced inflatables, VCU plans to super-size theirs.The giant inflated medallion will have internal LED lights around the VCU logo so that it will glow brightly at night. It will be anchored with large steel cable that can be reeled in during times of inclement weather. It will be located at the northeast corner of Monroe Park, which has changed greatly over the last decade with many mature trees destroyed.

Further questions about costs were deferred to later, as were questions about a $415 million capital project for its planned VCU Dentistry Center, a new United Campus Workers committee focused on issues of campus-wide health and safety, a change in basketball coaches, and a new proposed tuition increase “because of inflation”. But then, VCU administration did state back in December that it needed to ‘raise’ $51 million in order to maintain standards.

$1,000 RCV Prize for a Richmond University

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I am not a wealthy man. That said, sometimes you have to put your money where your mouth is.

While I don’t think money should equal speech (I support www.MoveToAmend.org), in this case, I am willing to make an exception.

Given the FAILURE of Richmond City Council to fully consider and debate ranked choice voting earlier this Fall season, I am upping the ante for local political reform.

I, Scott Burger, pledge to reward whichever Richmond university student government is the first among Richmond university student governments to conduct a campus wide election of student government officers using ranked choice voting and incorporate ranked choice voting into its constitution/bylaws with a $1,000 prize.

So, a couple of notes on this-

No stipulation on how the prize money, once awarded, is spent. Although one suggestion- maybe a giant pizza party, free for all students, with toppings decided by ranked choice voting (see https://www.rcv123.org)

This contest is eligible for Richmond university student governments, meaning University of Richmond SGA, Virginia Commonwealth University SGA, or Virginia Union University SGA.

Although I am a Green Party member and board member of Fair Vote Virginia, this contest is not in any way affiliated with those groups. I alone am responsible for holding this contest and rewarding the prize money.

And since it is my hard-earned money, I reserve the sole right to judge who qualifies first for the prize. I will also decide on the time and method of payment (despite the post photo, most likely a personal check). If I detect insincerity and/or lack of commitment, I also reserve the right to withhold the prize money.

Talk it over during the Thanksgiving holiday break. Remember, this city, state, and country need young people to lead.

Open High Art Expo Auction!

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From Open High’s newsletter:

Please support our Fine Arts Department by visiting our online Art Expo Auction! Just scan the QR code above or visit: https://m.charityauctionstoday.com/m/auctions/31000. This year’s goal is to raise $5,000 to purchase art supplies for all art classes in school year 2022-23. See below for images of the annual AP Art & Design Show held on Friday. Under the guidance of art teacher Brigette Newberry, these amazing artists develop substantive portfolios that showcase their ideas and skills with different materials and processes.

Fox Elementary Fire

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On Friday night, Fox Elementary School suffered a great fire. While not in the neighborhood, this public school is where many Oregon Hill children are zoned and many have attended in the past. Fox students will have Monday and Tuesday off with the rest of the week virtual while plans are being worked out to house the students for the remainder of the school year. This tragedy comes after years of disruption and hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to 5th District communication from Councilperson Lynch’s office, neighbors have reached out asking how they can help support and show love to the Fox Elementary family. The superintendent is encouraging community members to give their support to the RPS Foundation’s special fund for Fox Elementary. Please make sure to select “Fox Elementary Fire Response” in the pull-down menu (see screenshot below). One hundred percent of funds will go directly to teachers and students at Fox.

YWCA’s Sprout School To Have Oregon Hill “Outpost”

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RichmondBizSense.com reports on the YWCA’s plans for expanding its childcare program.

The nonprofit’s Sprout School, a full-day and year-round early childhood education program, is expected to open a downtown Richmond location in spring 2022 and an Oregon Hill location in winter 2023.
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The Oregon Hill outpost will be located at St. Andrew’s School at 227 S. Cherry St. The school and nonprofit have already signed an agreement to open the location, Tissiere said.

School Bus Slighting Of Oregon Hill?

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Oregon Hill, in recent years, has grown its younger population- more households have had babies, and more families with children have moved into the neighborhood. It’s been a welcome trend and it speaks to the ‘good bones’ of this historic, urban enclave.

That said, Oregon Hill parents are concerned about the lack of transportation options for getting their children to school, and feel like the public system should be doing more.

“RPS school bus schedules are out. Not a single bus stop in Oregon Hill! It is like we don’t even exist,” is one message that was sent.

Of course, as the pandemic continues, many localities are dealing with a shortage of school bus drivers, and other resource problems, and many are wondering if virus variants of COVID-19 will lead to the schools closing again anyway.

Open High Art Expo 2021 & Virtual Awards Assembly

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May 30 – June 5 is the second annual Open High School virtual silent auction, Art Expo 2021. Each year Open High School depends on the Art Auction to help fund the art department. This year the goal is to raise $5,000 to purchase art supplies for all of the art classes in school year 2021-22. Take a look and bid on items to support the school or simply make a donation. Three businesses in Oregon Hill – Rest in Pieces, Pine Street Barber Shop and L’Opossum- have donated items.

Also, this Thursday evening, Open High will be holding its 2021 Virtual Awards Assembly.

Please do check out their home page for more information on these and other events.