Logo far from representative

Hoping to present a uniform image, the University of La Verne has introduced a new school logo.

The new logo shows the doors of Founders Hall that face the Rock. The new logo combines the University colors: orange and green with an added hint of black. The tagline, "Knowledge, Service, Vision" runs along the bottom of the logo.

The logo had been in development for five years. Representatives from each of the University's educational programs collaborated to create a logo that would complimentarily reflect each of the programs equally.

Still, the change comes as a surprise to many students and some faculty because most of the ULV community had no idea that the logo was going to be changed.

The designers say they had student and faculty input. The input they received was from 60 students and employees, but that is only 60 out of approximately 1,400 undergraduate students and hundreds of graduate students, not to mention the thousands of ULV employees. Plus, it was done over one summer, a time when few students or employees are on campus.

What students were selected and how were they solicited for design suggestions?

The more effective process to get student input would have been to form a committee consisting of students and student leaders; it could also have been done during a time when more students were on campus.

Is this equal reflection of the various programs at ULV a good enough reason for people to accept?

Designers of the logo have failed to give any explanation of what the new logo could bring to the University.

Will prospective students be enticed into coming to ULV based on its new, uniform logo? Doubtful.

It seems that even two-and-a-half months, the time it took to come up with a logo design, would have been enough time involve more of the community in the new design.

Programs on campus are spending money to achieve accreditation, why not focus on improving programs rather than image. Think about it. If no one knows ULV's name, does it matter how sharp the logo is?