Posted on 05/06/2005 4:23:14 AM PDT by hispanarepublicana
Bolled over by alums, Tech backs off on new seal BY ELLIOTT BLACKBURN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
The Texas Tech University System will return cotton's likeness to new designs of the school seal, an administrator said Thursday.
Associate Vice Chancellor Lynn Denton, the system's head of marketing, said the school will develop new designs of the school seal that include symbols representing cotton.
"We've decided that we are going to put cotton plants back into the seal," Denton said.
Alumni became alarmed earlier this week after speculation circulated the Internet that the school was downplaying the Double T logo and removing cotton from the seal.
Officials assured the Tech community that the Double T logo was in no danger of retirement but confirmed at a Wednesday news conference that there were plans to remove 10 cotton bolls crossing the school shield.
Updated and uniform school seals and shields would replace a confusing number of individual college and program logos.
The new designs were created as part of a broader marketing effort, developed over the last year and a half by firms in Lubbock, Austin and Chicago, to improve the school's national image.
The change angered many cotton farmers who graduated from Tech, including Plains Cotton Cooperative Association head Eddie Smith.
Smith was cautious about the announcement Thursday, but said it was encouraging.
"I think that's an excellent first step and then we'll just see how it develops from there," Smith said. "I think it just shows that Tech officials are, as they should be, sensitive to the alumni and the surrounding community."
Denton reported the decision after a two-hour presentation given to Steve Verett, Plains Cotton Growers Inc. executive vice president, and the John Johnson, spokesman for the Plains Cotton Cooperative Association.
Verett, a Tech alumnus, said he told administrators that the best solution would be to make minor improvements to the existing seal.
He supported the university's efforts to better market the school, and was pleased with a productive meeting, he said.
"We appreciate them being able to look at a compromise," Verett said. "It's my preference that the shield stay as it is today and still be used in their effort to move forward ."
Johnson also supported the university's re-branding efforts, but believed the best choice would be to return to the original seal.
"I advised the best way to stop the controversy is not to change the seal at all," Johnson said. "I work for 29,000 stockholders in a farmer-owned co-op, and they have not authorized me to negotiate."
The school seal was designed in 1927 and formally adopted in 1953. Ten cotton bolls representing the 10 cotton producing counties around Lubbock cross the shield.
Changes to the school shield were not part of the compromise. The new cotton image would be incorporated into the larger seal, Denton said.
The newest designs should be prepared in time for next week's Board of Regents meeting, Denton said.
To comment on this story:
elliott.blackburn@lubbockonline.com 766-8722
brian.williams@lubbockonline.com 766-8717
We that live here love it. So don't knock us until your amung us.... Lubbock is not the prettiest place but we have the best people you will ever find.. and we stay here for that and many other reasons... no humidity, no floods, not much snow at all, and a great place to raise your children, not to mention Texas Tech sports and the best college arena in the country. Only one sand storm this year and it was not bad.... so I will take it any day.
I told you all, FOLK WEREN'T GONNA LIKE IT! Lubbock is very conservative and don't take kindly to sewer RATS coming in and changing things! Maybe the Univ. Dean will make a big goof up and get his butt kicked out of TT!! They had better keep the seal the way it was, or they won't hear the last of it!!
H.L. Mencken was right years ago when he said that in the modern university "conscience" is defined as "that which may jeopardize your funding"!
And this coming from people who have time to sit around and design new seals for the University? Or to come up with a tactical maneuver to eliminate the cross from the seal all the while making the alum feel good about it -- even cheering it?
They still won - the cross will be removed, as will the Lubbock on the bottom of the Seal......... but glad to hear the cotton will still get the honor it deserves
I was thinking the same thing. Sneaky bunch.
It isn't over yet. Smith can make his plans, but let's wait until more of the alumni get involved. Now, he has to tackle the community, students (past and present), as well as people who are higher on the political food chain. Also, why is he taking advice from TU students? Why aren't any TTU grads involved in his cabal of "marketing advisors." It appears that, according to what folks here are saying, that the pressure is only going to mount on this twit. I hope that his money scandals are exposed.
Wow! You live here as well?
OK, y'all, I surrender. My post denigrating Lubbock was uncalled for and I apologize. I guess I didn't spend enough time there to get to know the folks, but I did go into a really amazing old-time barbershop near the TT campus, where my son got a great $8 haircut by an old guy with a burr cut who was wearing a huge beltbuckle and cowboy boots...
Dr. David Smith and his liberal wife are jerks.. he should be removed from our University asap imho.
Don't worry. I thought the same thing when I first came here from the Hill Country. After a while, the low crime rate, friendly folks, strong conservatism, and church-oriented nature of the community grows on you.
I did go into a really amazing old-time barbershop near the TT campus, where my son got a great $8 haircut by an old guy with a burr cut who was wearing a huge beltbuckle and cowboy boots...
And you point is.....
Would you have preffered a spiked blue hair tattoed freak doing your son's hair for 25.00??? I just find your comments hateful and disrespectful. I love all of Texas even liber Austin is fun to go to now and then. The libs that think they are taking over Austin are a drop in the bucket to the great hard working people who are like us.. Conservative. After All George W resided there before coming to Washington. We TEXANS will welcome him home with open arms.
I've been awat 12 years, but still have a 3rd Down Clicker. It even has a Methodist Hospital logo on it.
I lived there for 4 years - and while it probably isn't the prettiest place on earth, I always say, "God put beauty everywhere, you just have to look a little harder to see it in West Texas"
Doesn't sound like the Lubbock I know. I guess everything there improved the day you left.
Good point - we'll see if they truly listen to anyone outside of their offices
JFC:
My point wasn't hateful and disrespectful. I was amazed and gratified to find this culture alive and well. I love Texas, even though I'm not from there, and I much prefer the fellow I saw in the Lubbock barbershop to the blue-haired tattooed freaks we see in the Blue States. Sorry if I offended you, that was not my intent.
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