Posted on 05/05/2005 4:57:02 AM PDT by hispanarepublicana
Cotton stripped from Tech seal BY ELLIOTT BLACKBURN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Texas Tech may face a fight from cotton farming alumni after the school announced Wednesday it would pluck the symbolic tufts of the West Texas crop from the school seal.
The changes are part of a broader marketing campaign to be launched early next year that Tech officials hope will improve the university's national reputation.
Chancellor David Smith refuted rumors Wednesday that the school was abandoning its past for the marketing effort.
A-J File Photo
"It is not undoing tradition, it is not undoing pride," Smith said of the changes. "We need a platform to celebrate what Texas Tech is accomplishing as a system."
But Eddie Smith, chairman of the Plains Cotton Cooperative Association and a Tech alumnus who was honored as an outstanding agriculturist last year by the university, said the omission ignored the major contributions cotton made to Tech.
"There's a lot of us that are tied to this university that are not going to let it slide by," Smith said.
School and system officials announced the changes Wednesday in an effort to counter an anonymous e-mail and message board campaign rallying opposition to the revisions.
The Internet campaign sparked rumors of school officials abandoning the Double T trademark while retooling school marketing materials.
In a hastily organized news conference held in response to e-mails and phone calls from concerned alumni, school officials stressed that the beloved Double T logo stitched onto merchandise, emblazoned on the sides of buildings and printed in the letterhead of the press releases distributed Wednesday would not be retired.
"The Double T has an indefinite contract," said Craig Wells, senior associate athletics director. "It's going to be around forever and ever and ever."
But it will no longer represent the academic side of the university. A new seal was designed by an Austin firm as part of a broader marketing campaign that has a $450,000 budget this year. The seal will be featured on academic communications, Chancellor Smith said.
Texas Tech seal Designed in 1927 by campus master planner William Watkin. Formally adopted in 1953. The Saddle Tramps raised $24,750 in 1972 to fund the 37,500-pound granite seal at the main entrance of the campus. The monument will not be changed to reflect the new design, according to Chancellor David Smith.Source: Texas Tech Web site
The seal will replace the myriad symbols each college and program had developed and present a more uniform message, said Bill Dean, executive director of the Texas Tech Alumni Association.
"It's possible for someone to get four or five pieces of correspondence from different areas of Tech and they could all look different," Dean said. "So I think it's a step in the right direction to try and standardize this.
"As to whether they should change it or not," Dean said, "I think that's another question that probably needs to be revisited a little bit."
The modified seal must still be approved by the Tech Board of Regents, which will meet next week.
Cotton bolls that form a cross in the middle of the school shield and represent the 10 cotton-producing counties around Tech were removed from the new design. Instead, a more general "vine-like" image will represent all of agriculture.
A granite monument to the seal erected at the main entrance of the campus in 1972 would not be changed to reflect the new design, Chancellor Smith said.
Several administrators admitted that they did not realize that the round, somewhat crudely drawn shapes splitting the school shield symbolized cotton.
The new design has a clearer symbol of agriculture, and the chancellor said it reflects that Tech is no longer a regional university but a system with seven campuses.
"You've got to decide that you're going to play in that larger sandbox," Smith said.
The changes were not acceptable, alumnus Eddie Smith said.
"Vines are weeds in my cotton fields," Smith said. "I think it's a mistake, and I wish they would ask the people who've supported the university through the years."
Speculation on the changes scattered throughout Lubbock and cyberspace Wednesday. Several alumni were baffled that the changes would be made with little public input.
"Change is inevitable," said Don Harris, a Lubbock appraiser and Tech alumnus. "On the other hand, if it isn't broken, why fix it?"
W.B. "Dub" Rushing, a long-time Tech contributor, said he had no problems with the changes as long as they were for a positive reason.
The school has weathered strong reactions to other changes, such as a proposal to call the school Texas Tech and the recent revisions on the Double T logo, he said. But administrators should be careful about change for change's sake, he said.
"I don't see anything wrong with the present seal," Rushing said. "If it would only make the alumni mad, and that's where their gifts come from - all you have to do is kill off a dozen people and that could be $12 million."
More Tech faithful, including cotton farmers, would warm to the new design once they understood why the changes were being made, Chancellor Smith said.
The outcry Wednesday showed that people cared about the university, but the controversy was overblown, he said.
"A lot of people had a lot of extra time today," Smith said. "It was kind of ridiculous." OLD:
NEW:
To comment on this story:
elliott.blackburn@lubbockonline.com 766-8722
brian.williams@lubbockonline.com t 766-8717
Methinks that you ties to the Cult of the Collie are showing. But then, if would be classless to point out you attacks on the university.
As for tacky fans, have you ever attended an OU game? They cheer and give "high fives" when a player from the opposing team is injured. At least TTU fans (for the most part) bow their heads and remain silent until the opposing player gets onto his feet.
Here is excerpt from another article regarding TTU. (The complete article is linked at the bottom.)
Racial diversity concerns stirring at Tech
BY AUSTIN RESTER
FOR THE AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Some Texas Tech students and staff say racial diversity is a concern at the university, where white students make up almost 80 percent of the student body.
"I think we need to increase the number of minority students we have here on campus and diversify it," said Mike Gunn, assistant director for the Tech Center for Campus Life, which offers diverse programs and services.
http://lubbockonline.com/stories/042805/loc_042805034.shtml
I wrote to Dean and Denton and received canned comments back about how they wanted to be known for more than athletics - I responded that the Seal would not be the symbol noted for the University - are they really that stupid as to think anyone would remember a Seal? lol
You are not a good example of anyone praising Texas A&M - you're an ass
Please see post 139 - an example of what is NOT classy
You are correct in your observation Whyisa. That is an uncalled for comment about Texas Tech. Texas A&M has a very fine and mostly conservative student body, but TT is not much different.
The rivalry is in the athletic departments, where it belongs -
Must be a sand flea.
>>Cult of the Collie<<
Nice insult. Are you jealous that the only thing cultish in Lubbock is drunkeness and lewd behavior. And at least A&M's mounted corps unit know how to ride their horse.
>>But then, if would be classless to point out you attacks on the university.<<
What would it be to prompt one to write an incoherent sentence.
>>At least TTU fans (for the most part) bow their heads and remain silent<<
Let's see what other things tech "fans" do:
-- all but destroy an equipment truck (2004 vs. t.u.)
-- tear down a goalpost after a win against a team they are favored to beat, then start a riot trying to shove that goalpost into the stands (2001 vs A&M)
-- throw red kool-aid (at least, I hope that was what it was) on the opposing coach and players (1999 vs. A&M)
-- start a fight with the opposing team in basketball after a loss (1994 vs. A&M)
-- chunking stuff, including dog crap, at opposing fans at the game and at cars before/after the game (various times certainly; verified football vs. A&M 2001)
-- ice being thrown at fans, both football AND basketball (too numerous to mention)
By the way: these events were all observed first hand or reported on by someone I know who did have it happen to them. Don't get on here with one weak example from OU (who I'm not going to defend) without explaining why this idiotic behavior continues and the "school" does nothingset:ut it.
Sorry I don't meet your standards. Not that I care much, though.
See, you continue to show no class..there was no need for you to invade this thread and act like that - no manners and no class - perhaps you need to return to TAMU and see if some if that can rub off on you
26,000 students - and a handful get drunk and stupid at a game.........and you want someone to believe not a single student at A&M gets drunk? Get real - Everyone I know denounces idiotic stunts and/or acts of violence at any sporting event - you are being childish lumping everyone from Tech into that pot..........I certainly don't call everyone at A&M a tightassed geek......
Do you think he/she/it is a lawyer? Name the one major school in Texas that does NOT have a Law School............... ;^)
I wish you wouldn't compare tech to A&M
Your RIGHT .. We aint no stinking aggies... ;)
Hhhmmmmmm, I do recall an institution of learning located somewhere between Houston and Austin, but he name escapes me at the moment. ;-)
aggies.. like to think they are the only unverstiy in Texas.
However, we know different. GO TEXAS TECH! Ditch Smith... PICK COTTON!
Baylor? St. Mary's?
</sarcasm>
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