Edna Grant
Staff writter
While Idaho State University began rolling out new branding items such as new logos and slogans, ISU students shared varying perspectives on the new look. Some support the change and feel it was an important move for the university, while others haven’t noticed the differences at all.
“I really do like the re-branding,” said ISU graduate student, Humberto Ortega. “Let’s face it. The last branding was kind of dated.”
In the same way that ISU’s administration hoped that changing up the fonts and logos would show how the university has evolved, Ortega believes that the new look will have a positive impact on enrollment numbers in the coming years.
“I think looking new and sleek will appeal to younger students,” Ortega said.
Ortega is firmly convinced of younger students’ reliance on aesthetic, saying that they would be more likely to consider ISU with the new logo and the font change over the older brand which he called, ‘outdated’. “New students don’t want to go to some old-timey school,” he said.
“I like the logo better than the old one. I like that its bold and has less stuff going on,” said second-year student, Adolfo Martinez.
For students like Martinez, this particular change is eye-catching.
On the other hand, other students don’t hold very positive opinions.
“I liked the old Bengal,” said ISU senior, Tania Perez, “He was cute.”
Yashaidy Salazar, another senior student, said she doesn’t believe the branding will affect too many people.
For various other students, the changes have been overly subtle, furthering Salazar’s viewpoint.
Many, like graduate student Kyle Scott, weren’t aware of the school’s efforts to rebrand, and changes made to campus went unnoticed.
“I just noticed that orientation week they were playing Katy Perry’s ‘Roar’ song a whole lot,” Scott said.
Scott is not in the minority of students.
“I come here for school,” is a sentiment shared by students around campus who are completely oblivious to the changes being made. These students are many and believe they represent the majority of students on campus — they believe the changes being made are inconsequential as the main purpose of the university is to provide an education.
Part of the re-branding efforts include renovations to multiple buildings on campus, such as Frazier Hall and the Liberal Arts building.
“Buildings are difficult,” Ortega said. “It’s hard to tell if renovations and updates are being done as part of an updated school image, or if it’s just being done out of necessity.”
He referred to the new flooring in the Liberal Arts building, claiming that most buildings on campus are old and have needed repairs for a long time. While the updates are also sleek-looking, they “have been needed for a while.”
State-wide advertisements for ISU started airing last spring semester, a move that most students feel is the most beneficial in the rebranding process.
“I’ve seen more commercials for other schools,” said Martinez, “especially when I was getting ready to go to college.”
According to Martinez, ISU’s previous lack of television and radio advertisements wasn’t detrimental to the school, as the university possessed alluring factors that draw students in.
“I came to ISU because of the cheap pharmacy program,” said Scott.
Martinez also said the use of on-air advertising might aid the school in drawing in future students.
“As a young new student, I’d definitely be more drawn toward advertisements with the new logo and fonts over ads with the old ones,” Ortega said.
