On the weekend of March 17th, fliers were discovered on the top three floors of Rotunda Hall featuring “A skull with a crown and “The Rooks” - per Lt. R. Stuart Raybold, the Interim Director of Public Safety at LUPD. In addition, there was a mask taped over the Joan of Arc at Domremy statue, affectionately called “Joanie on the Stonie” by Longwood students. This mask damaged the statue, ripping off paint and jeopardizing her role at Longwood’s commencement.
In a statement to The Rotunda, Rachel Ivers, the Executive Director of the Longwood Center for Visual Arts, said that the statue, “Has a special place in the hearts of the Longwood community, and we were saddened to see her so mistreated.” The statue was originally purchased in 1914 as a gift from the graduating class, inspired by the courage and spirit of Joan of Arc. It has long served as a good luck symbol for Longwood students, with generations of Lancers rubbing her hands prior to tests and exams.
Considering the extent of the damage, Mack Lenhart, the Collections Manager of the LCVA, spoke on the damage in the back and sides of the statues’ head. Lenhart said, “Protective and paint layers were ripped off in those three locations due to the electrical tape that was used to affix the mask.” This means that the raw plaster is now exposed, putting the statue at risk of further damage
When asked, Lenhart clarified some of the protocol that goes into repairing the statue, including the cleaning, repainting, and refinishing of the statue’s hands. Lenhart said that the statue will “Need to be sent to a conservator for the repairs to be made, which will take an estimated two weeks to complete.” When asked about her role at graduation, Ivers said “It is unclear at this time if she will be at this year’s graduation ceremony.” Lenhart, in an April 3 statement to The Rotunda, said “It does not seem likely that she will be available” for commencement.
There have been no reported fliers or droppings from ‘The Rooks’ since the vandalism at Rotunda Hall. Communication Studies Department Chair and Professor Jeff Halliday*, in a statement about the fliers left up at Allen Hall and subsequent damage to doors in Allen Hall, said “I’m confident we’ve seen the last of ‘The Rooks,’ and I trust our students will continue to respect and care for our shared space.” He also said that he has “No evidence to connect the door damage [in Allen] to any student organization on campus.”
At this point, there seems to be a number of things left up in the air. There is no public knowledge of who left up these fliers and damaged the statue, no timeline set considering the repairs of the statue (per Ivers), and no public knowledge of whether graduating Seniors will be able to say one last goodbye to ‘Joanie’ as they cross Wheeler Lawn. This is a developing story.
*Professor Halliday serves in an advisory role for The Rotunda.
