Looking north on the Lawn, the Rotunda is hard to miss. So is little Rotunda. Even Abercrombie and Fitch could not resist the big eyes and gaping grin of little Rotunda, a canine who landed a modeling job with the company. Economics Prof. Ken Elzinga's dog appeared in the A&F catalog when she had a photo shoot on Grounds two years ago. At only a year old, she proved to females of all ages that wrinkles are adorable, even to the lust-worthy Abercrombie models.
Rotunda belongs to Elzinga and his wife, Terry, who live in Pavilion IV. Other canine celebrities have inhabited Pavilion IV over the years, including the Elzingas' previous dog, who was voted by fellow Lawn residents "Best Lawnie."
But little Rotunda, the 3-year-old English bulldog, who measures in at 15 1/2 inches and 50 pounds, makes her presence on Grounds known.
"One of the funniest anecdotes is her obsession to try to get Frisbees from students," Elzinga said. "Students think that because she is, well, rotund, that it doesn't matter if she gets it. We really warn them. We say, 'You know, if you want that Frisbee back, don't get it on the ground.'"
Last winter in the snow, the Elzingas and five students had to chase Rotunda as she dove in and out of snow banks, until they had worn her out enough to steal back the Frisbee.
Rotunda came to live on the Lawn when she was a puppy, and she has grown up next door to her namesake. She's from North Carolina, and the five siblings from her litter moved to three different countries.
Rotunda's favorite places in Charlottesville are the grassy area by Brooks Hall and on the hill east of Randall Hall. It is at these treasured spots that Prof. Elzinga - the taller, wiser and usually faster companion - tosses balls and sticks to little Rotunda. But it's little Rotunda who never tires of playing.
"Whoa! She got it! Good girl," Elzinga exclaims as Rotunda rips the green and yellow orb from his hand. "She's really fast." Overhearing his comment, Little Rotunda prances back to Mrs. Elzinga.
The Elzingas kindly allow student organizations, auditions and classes in their home, even when they are not there. While most dogs are upset by the the mailman's mundane visits, Rotunda usually watches a group of strangers walk into her house, and, realizing they are not going to offer her food or entertainment, opts to continue napping in her doggy bed. These indifferent intruders, however, are not Rotunda's only visitors. She has many friends at the University.
"There are students, and we welcome this, who come by and take her for a walk," Prof. Elzinga said. "We don't always know that she's been walked, because we don't have to be here. They just come by. They know where the leash is."
It is no surprise that little Rotunda is so popular with students, because her personality is similar to theirs, he said.
"I think she fits because of her friendliness," he added. "She likes treats. She likes young people. She likes strangers. If you were to come by and take her for a walk, she'd be just as fine with you as with Terry and me."
One could say Rotunda believes in the honor system. She has a good heart, and believes everyone else does too, her owners said. As students can be trusted to enter the Elzingas' empty home, Rotunda can be trusted to behave in public - most of the time.
Last week Rotunda ran up the stairs of the real Rotunda and almost darted inside, but was detained by an official at the door and a woman making shooing motions in the entrance.
As little Rotunda begins to reveal her personality, more parallels between the Elzingas' dog and University students become apparent. Rotunda has an incredible love of food, Frisbee and fun, which often leads her into outrageous situations. Sitting shotgun next to Mrs. Elzinga in a red Corvette with "Rotunda" vanity plates, Rotunda, like most University students, is open to any adventure.
Yet, she practices self-governance and takes care of herself by getting plenty of sleep and eating nutritious food. She likes tidbits of fruit and vegetables for treats. Just as dinner or bedtime serves as motivation for students to get work done, a bag of treats controls Rotunda on walks.
One of little Rotunda's best tricks is knowing exactly how to get to Prof. Elzinga's office in Rouss Hall. She also can find her way into any backpack she believes contains food.
"Earlier this year the Women's Center had a dinner in every Pavilion, and the guy from C&O catered the whole thing," Mrs. Elzinga said. "They were bringing the food over for later on in the afternoon. They sat the food on the floor outside the dining room, and Rotunda, of course, thinks it's for her. So she ate."
Clearly the key to keeping the quantity little Rotunda consumes at a minimum is restricting supply. She is insatiable. This little third year has a lot to learn before she graduates.
"Rotunda acts like, 'Whatever you want to do, hey, I'm up for it,'" Prof. Elzinga said. "And that's like a lot of students at U.Va. 'Try something? Yeah I'll try this. I'm ready to go.' They both say, 'I'm ready to go. I'm ready to go do it."
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