Framingham State Unveils New Ram Sculpture

Framingham State Unveils New Ram Sculpture

Sep 9, 2016

Framingham State unveiled a prominent new landmark on campus during a ceremony in Crocker Grove on September 8th.

The bronze Framingham State Ram Sculpture is the brainchild of longtime FSU supporters Janina ’67 and Nancy ’68 Swiacki. The sisters realized during a walk around campus in 2013 that FSU was missing a visible piece of public art.

Having already coordinated a similar project in their hometown, they teamed up with Framingham State Trustee Emeritus Robert Richards, Jr ’82 to lead a fundraising effort to cover the cost of a sculpture.

“A vision has become a spectacular reality,” said Nancy Swiacki, as the over 400 pound sculpture was unveiled during the ceremony. The piece was created by artist Chris Williams, who spent six months working on it.

“I imagine thousands of photos will be taken in front of the sculpture during visits to campus or around graduation,” FSU President Javier Cevallos said during the ceremony. “It will become a regular gathering spot for athletic rallies and student celebrations.”

The origin of the name “Rams” dates back to 1967, when a contest was held to name a mascot as the University was adding male athletic teams. Several alumni who were students at the time attended the unveiling ceremony, including former student athlete and Chair of the Framingham State Board of Trustees Dick Logan ‘70.

“This sculpture honors the tradition of what it means to be a Framingham State Ram,” Logan said. “Hardworking, determined and prideful are all attributes that can be used to describe our students and community. I applaud artist Chris Williams for the fine job he did creating this beautiful work of art. It captures the spirit of our University.”

About Framingham State University

Framingham State University was founded in 1839 as the nation’s first public university for the education of teachers. Since that time, it has evolved into a vibrant, comprehensive liberal arts institution offering small, personalized classes on a beautiful New England campus. Today, the University enrolls more than 6,000 students with 58 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences and professional fields. As a State College and University (SCU), Framingham State prides itself on quality academic programs, affordability, and commitment to access for all qualified students.