Campus Life
These two official colors represent Virginia Commonwealth University.
Black and Gold
VCU is located in this capital city of Virginia.
Richmond
This pop superstar's record-breaking global tour was officially called "The Eras Tour."
Taylor Swift
This Italian baked dish is typically made with tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings like pepperoni or mushrooms.
Pizza
This giant landmark in Paris, built for the 1889 World's Fair, is nicknamed "The Iron Lady."
Eiffel Tower
Named Rodney, this horned animal serves as the official mascot for VCU.
Ram
Located on Broad Street, this arena serves as the home court for VCU basketball and volleyball games.
Siegel Center (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this rare and powerful metal found in Wakanda powers Black Panther’s suit.
Vibranium
This popular Mexican avocado-based dip literally translates from Aztec roots as "avocado sauce."
Guacamole
This ocean is the largest and deepest of the world's five oceanic divisions.
Pacific Ocean
Situated at the heart of the Monroe Park Campus, this main library sits right across from the Student Commons.
Cabell Library (or James Branch Cabell Library)
In 2011, the VCU Men’s Basketball team shocked the nation by going all the way from the First Four to this ultimate weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
What is the Final Four?
Before directing Dune, Dune: Part Two, and Blade Runner 2049, this French-Canadian director earned his first Oscar nomination for his gripping 2016 sci-fi film Arrival.
Denis Villeneuve
In classical French culinary preparation, this essential base made from equal parts butter and flour cooked together is used to thicken sauces like Béchamel.
Roux
Spanning over 5,000 miles across seven South American countries, this is the longest continental mountain range on Earth.
Andes
Formed in 1968, VCU was created through the merger of Richmond Professional Institute (RPI) and this historic downtown medical center campus.
Medical College of Virginia (MCV)
Before joining Saturday Night Live and doing famous celebrity impressions, this comedian studied mass communications at VCU.
Jay Pharoah
Beyoncé’s 2024 album Cowboy Carter features a reimagined cover of this classic 1973 Dolly Parton song about a green-eyed beauty.
Jolene
Known as the most expensive spice in the world by weight, these delicate crimson threads are harvested by hand from the Crocus sativus flower.
Saffron
Located in South America, this is the world's highest uninterrupted waterfall, dropping over 3,200 feet from a tabletop mountain.
Angel Falls
Known as the center of Monroe Park Campus, this large paved plaza between Cabell Library and the Commons takes its name from the large geometric cardinal directions embedded in its bricks.
The Compass
Playing on the fast-paced, high-intensity defensive style made famous by former coach Shaka Smart during the 2011 Final Four run, VCU basketball fans and media frequently refer to this brand of play by this two-word nickname.
What is "Havoc" (or Havoc Basketball)?
At the 2024 Academy Awards, this film won Best Picture, making it director Christopher Nolan's first-ever Oscar win for Best Picture or Best Director.
Oppenheimer
While sushi often uses raw fish, this specific term describes the seasoned, vinegared white rice that forms the required base of authentic sushi.
Shari (also sushi-meshi or sushi rice)
Though Australia is famous for its large coastal cities like Sydney and Melbourne, this purpose-built inland city serves as its national capital.
Canberra