The five bronze rams, their history and where to find them
by Cadence Cardona
published March 30, 2024
The ram has been Colorado State University’s mascot since 1946 and has represented pride for students and alumni.
The campus’s statues of rams serve as symbolic reminders of what it means to be a CSU ram. The statues can be found across campus and have traveled to various locations over the years. Facilities Management works with the University Public Art Committee for all sculptures.
Editor’s note
This story was produced in partnership with the Department of Journalism and Media Communication as part of a special class in which students get hands-on experiences developing and producing content with the Division of Marketing and Communications for SOURCE, the news website of CSU.
“In many cases, state-funded buildings have a 1% state funding requirement for public art, and so when a new facility is constructed … that 1% has to go through a process to select an artist and then oversee the installation of that,” David Hansen said, the university landscape architect at CSU.
Whether you are curious about the history of your favorite ram statue or looking to tackle a scavenger hunt, this map can help.
1. “Ram Proud” by Dawn Weimer
Students are known to pose with this elegant statue following graduation ceremonies in Moby Arena. The statue was originally south of the Durrell Center in 1999. Facilities Management decided to transport it to its current location outside of the arena near Plum Street due to construction in 2013.
2. “Rocky Mountain Rumble” by Dawn Weimer
This legendary sight of two rams charging at one another is set in stone outside of Canvas Stadium. Weimer had aspirations to install the statue at Hughes Stadium, but was unable due to insufficient funding. The battling rams were installed in 2017 at Canvas Stadium in perfect timing before the first football game of the season.
3. “Meet the Challenge” by Rich Haines
This ram has traveled around campus since 2002. The statue was first placed at the Mary Ontiveros House and moved to the north of the library in 2009. In 2012, it took a trip to the east side of the Lory Student Center and then the west side of Morgan Library’s Study Cube in 2014. Its last route was to the medical center at Prospect and College in 2017 where it still stands today.
4. “Traditions” by Renee Shisler
The addition of the training center to Moby Arena in 2010 brought another familiar friend. The ram stands proud with the CSU blanket draped over his body. The statue was a gift to student athletes, scholars who cheered at games, and CSU as an alma mater. It was also placed with the intention of athletes being able to rub the ram’s nose for good luck before games on the fields.
5. Untitled ram by Jack Putnam
This unnamed ram resides just east of the Michael Smith Natural Resources Building. It is part of Warner College of Natural Resources’ art collection and was installed in 1976 inside the building. Following renovations of the atrium where it once was located, the ram was placed outdoors in 2009.