Spring Break
Newly-named road honors mascot
Noelle Myers
Issue date: 1/28/09 Section: Campus
01/28/09 - When students and parents receive university payments in the mail, the return address will now read "Rhody Ram Way," and will no longer say "Garage Road."
The small road is located in the service sector of the campus and goes from Alumni Avenue near Meade Stadium, and north toward the Automotive Garage. The name of the road made sense when it was originated due to the location of the Automotive Garage, said J. Vernon Wyman, assistant vice president of Business Services.
He said he believes Garage Road is not necessarily the best name for the street and "everybody will be more comfortable with the address" because it will accurately portray the university.
Students, however, seem to have a different opinion on the newly named street.
"I don't see the point in changing it. I didn't even know it was once called Garage Road" said freshman Cailin McCleary-Sills.
Freshman Jeff Tortora had a similar opinion after receiving a financial payment in the mail with the new address. "I saw the envelope. I just looked at it and thought it was amusing," Tortora said.
Sophomore Betsy Montes added, "I feel like URI is trying to brand everything, but I'm indifferent about it."
Assistant Director of Property Support Services Vic Degraide presented the idea to university President Robert L. Carothers last March.
According to the proposal, the University of Rhode Island adopted the idea of bar-coding envelopes, because of "the collective shift to the bar-coding of US Mail." After adopting this idea, Enrollment Services and URI Postal wanted to change Garage Road to something more efficient.
As of June 2008, the sign on Garage Road read Rhody Ram Way.
Wyman said Carothers was enthusiastic about the idea and the sign was ready for the students to see in the fall of 2008.
This was the perfect timing to re-name this road, Wyman said, because this year URI is honoring 85 years of having Rhody Ram as the university mascot. In changing the name, he said it will also promote Rhody Ram.
The small road is located in the service sector of the campus and goes from Alumni Avenue near Meade Stadium, and north toward the Automotive Garage. The name of the road made sense when it was originated due to the location of the Automotive Garage, said J. Vernon Wyman, assistant vice president of Business Services.
He said he believes Garage Road is not necessarily the best name for the street and "everybody will be more comfortable with the address" because it will accurately portray the university.
Students, however, seem to have a different opinion on the newly named street.
"I don't see the point in changing it. I didn't even know it was once called Garage Road" said freshman Cailin McCleary-Sills.
Freshman Jeff Tortora had a similar opinion after receiving a financial payment in the mail with the new address. "I saw the envelope. I just looked at it and thought it was amusing," Tortora said.
Sophomore Betsy Montes added, "I feel like URI is trying to brand everything, but I'm indifferent about it."
Assistant Director of Property Support Services Vic Degraide presented the idea to university President Robert L. Carothers last March.
According to the proposal, the University of Rhode Island adopted the idea of bar-coding envelopes, because of "the collective shift to the bar-coding of US Mail." After adopting this idea, Enrollment Services and URI Postal wanted to change Garage Road to something more efficient.
As of June 2008, the sign on Garage Road read Rhody Ram Way.
Wyman said Carothers was enthusiastic about the idea and the sign was ready for the students to see in the fall of 2008.
This was the perfect timing to re-name this road, Wyman said, because this year URI is honoring 85 years of having Rhody Ram as the university mascot. In changing the name, he said it will also promote Rhody Ram.
