By Rina Torchinsky
The Maryland Dairy has unveiled a new temporary ice cream flavor in honor of the UMD Student Government Association (SGA)’s 100th year anniversary.
The ice cream flavor — named Rocky Ralph in honor of SGA’s former president Ralph Williams — has a chocolatey base and is layered with mini marshmallows and brownie chunks.
Williams introduced the university’s first official Testudo statue in 1933.
Sophomore government and politics and economics double major Andrew String, who serves as the SGA alumni relations and traditions director, said he wanted to celebrate with something other than a typical community outreach event.
“Ralph really and truly was the mastermind behind officiating a mascot for the University of Maryland,” String said, adding that he chose Williams because he thought it could stir up conversation on campus.
Lori Dominick, the Dining Services Food Court general manager, said Dining Services was happy to assist with SGA’s festivities.
“Any time an academic department or student group has an idea that’ll work, we want to try to work with them,” Dominick said.
In his time as SGA president, Williams showed strong support for cultural clubs, women’s leadership and the construction of a student union, according to an archived 1933 edition of The Diamondback. He submitted expansion plans for a student union, cracked down on cheating and transformed the dining hall experience while in office.
Williams worked with Dean Marie Mount to include “dinner music” and table service to mimic “home cooking” in the dining hall, according to The Diamondback.
When he left the university, he and his senior class left behind a bronze Testudo statue in front of Ritchie Coliseum.
The 400-pound statue became sought after plunder, often leaving an empty perch in front of the Coliseum.
Over the years, the reptile replica was stolen a number of times and taken as far as Johns Hopkins University, Georgetown and Virginia. Today, Testudo now sits securely outside of McKeldin Library.
“And now there are six others on campus,” String said. “It’s a huge tradition here at the University of Maryland.”
Rocky Ralph will join a case filled with other unique flavors, such as Brenda’s Peanut Butter Frese — a brownie batter-based ice cream swirled with peanut butter cups, and Terpresso — a coffee-flavored base with caramel and Oreos mixed in.
“It’s good to have a variety of different ice creams,” said Dawit Reda, a Maryland Dairy employee. “Some people like it and some people don’t like it.”
But String said with certainty that Rocky Ralph is a great flavor for chocolate fanatics and skeptics alike.
“I think the flavor is delicious,” String said. “And the people who don’t like chocolate? They think the flavor is good too.”