Olivia Love
Staff Writer
Red Hill was once marked with a sign of ISU pride, a giant “I,” but it has since been removed.
The class of 2016 recently donated its class gift of the Bengal Eyes on the side of the Rendezvous building. While a great legacy to leave behind, it sparked questions of an older “Bengal I” that used to be on Red Hill.
The “I” was a sign of school pride and held great significance with the student body. However, the symbol was removed due to safety reasons.
“The university thought it was in danger of chipping off and falling down the hill,” said Ryan Sargent, committee chair and ISU’s associate alumni director.
Since the icon’s removal, there has been talk and demand that the “I” be replaced.
A lot of the push for replacement has come from students.
It has been two years since the symbol was taken down, and people are wondering what the plans are.
Sargent worked with the “Future of the I” committee and together they decided on a design plan that the university approved to put something on the hill to replace it.
However, building something of that scale comes with a hefty price tag.
“Ultimately it’s come down to funding,” said Phil Moessner, associate vice president of facilities services. “We’re looking to try and get the university community involved and interested in raising the funds for it.”
Sargent explained that the Alumni Association has come together and put aside $25,000 for the project. Despite the generous donation, the total cost of the project is estimated to be $174,000 to $187,000.
“Students from ASISU were approached and at one time expressed interest in putting an “IS” on the side of the hill,” Sargent said.
The university also supported this idea but no action has taken place from the organization to put that plan into motion.
Alumni from ISU have given and continue to give much to the project and the university as a whole. Because of this, the committee behind the project is hoping to get students behind the project in order to make it happen.
There is one concern, however, and that is timing.
Since the icon was taken down two years ago and it appears it is going to take some time to get the project in motion, there is worry new students will not find as much significance in the “I”.
“The further we get from when the I was on the hill the more it becomes difficult to interest different students in supporting an icon they might not remember,” Moessner said. “That is a concern; the further you get down the road the more difficult it may be to get current students behind the project.”
There are plans to replace the beloved icon but the support of the students could be a make-or-break factor.
Until the committee gets the funding it needs, the project will continue to be just a hope for the students and alumni who hold it so high in value.
