VCU news

By Patrick Kane

Students with VCU’s Rams in Recovery program served up coffee and conversation with lawmakers and the public on Capitol Square Friday morning.

As lawmakers, staff, lobbyists, protesters and pages hustled between the General Assembly Building and the Capitol, students offered free coffee, tea and biscuits from the Free Hot Coffee Bike in exchange for a moment to talk.

“I think it went great. We made a lot of good connections with people, and I think we brought awareness,” said Ryan O’Hallahan, a graduate student in the Department of History. “Hopefully we can parlay this into greater awareness, not just on VCU’s campus, but in the Richmond community about what Rams in Recovery is doing.”

Rams in Recovery is part of the Well, and supports students in recovery from addictive behaviors through meetings, programs, activities and a clubhouse space. The Free Hot Coffee Bike offers a moveable place for casual conversation with the public, amid national discussion on addiction issues.

“It’s set up to have people come face-to-face with people who are in recovery, and their allies,” John Freyer explained to Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who stopped to chat.

“Terrific. So we’re getting rid of the stigma,” said McAuliffe as he grabbed a mug of fresh-brewed coffee.

Freyer, an assistant professor of cross-disciplinary media in the VCU School of the Arts Department of Photography and Film, explained that the blend of coffee beans was chosen by students and custom-roasted by Lamplighter.

VCU President Michael Rao, Ph.D., stopped to connect with students and enjoy a cup of herbal tea. There are dozens of active members in Rams in Recovery, which is led by Program Coordinator Tom Bannard.

Students “had an opportunity to engage and interact with President Rao and the governor, who were both generous with their time,” Freyer said. “They really spent time talking to our students about their stories.”

Valentina Donnini, a sophomore homeland security major in the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, was among the students chatting with McAuliffe about addiction issues, plus local and national news.

“It was good communicating our story to them. We know we have a great idea and spreading it to other people is really good,” she said.

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