No brand and no balls
Feb 4, 2011 10:35:55 GMT -6
Post by Big D on Feb 4, 2011 10:35:55 GMT -6
This is obviously nothing new, but I am sick and tired of our branding situation and the inconsistency in how our name appears in the media and on the web. Calling us "Illinois-Chicago" is one thing, but I will take that any day of the week over "University of Illinois".
I wish I saved all the instances I've come across, but I feel that when UIC appears in the media for something bad, we're clearly referred to as "UIC" or "Illinois-Chicago". Whenever we do something good, we're the "University of Illinois". Yes, we are part of the U of I, but when people see "U of I" in the media or on websites, they automatically think UIUC, because that's how they're branded. It's good free publicity for the flagship campus when we do something newsworthy. When something bad happens, it's pinned directly on us, so everyone knows that we did it...not UIUC.
When a crime occurs, it occurs at UIC.
When interesting research is performed, it's by the University of Illinois.
When our research scandal took place in 1999, how many times did you see us referred to as just "University of Illinois"?
The latest is this Chicago RDC site, which lists "University of Illinois", which implies UIUC....it should be UIC or University of Illinois at Chicago! In fact, they have the UIC image on the main page, so why not list UIC instead of "University of Illinois"? A prime example of inconsistency in mere inches on one website.
www.chicagordc.org/
We can't be the UIC College of Medicine anymore....nope it's the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Who caved into the pressure to rename? A UIUC alum. Not only are we not distinguishing ourselves from UIUC, we're actually going out of our way to further unite ourselves with UIUC, for their benefit only.
How would you feel, as a UIC alum, if a UIC researcher discovered the cure for cancer, and the headlines the next morning read "University of Illinois Cures Cancer". Mark my words, it would happen....and it would be a travesty. 99% of the population would believe it's UIUC and would not investigate further....it would just add to their perception that UIUC is a "great" school while UIC is just the little sister....BS.
Grow a pair, UIC...stick up for yourself and fight to be called what you want to be called....and make it happen. Fight to make a distinction between you and UIUC. Quit letting them use you for their benefit....our hard work should not go unnoticed and uncredited, which is precisely what is happening when we're called "University of Illinois".
I feel like an oppressed people....powerless. There's nothing we can do about it....it has to be done by people that care about UIC and have a UIC-first agenda....not a make-UIUC-happy-at-all-costs-even-at-UIC's-expense agenda. But when the Board of Trustees comprises mostly UIUC grads, when our own chancellor is a UIUC grad, when UIUC grads and employess (dean - college of medicine) are renaming our facilities with broader names, and when the media gives two turds about UIC, how can we ever truly advance and make a name for ourselves?
I wish I saved all the instances I've come across, but I feel that when UIC appears in the media for something bad, we're clearly referred to as "UIC" or "Illinois-Chicago". Whenever we do something good, we're the "University of Illinois". Yes, we are part of the U of I, but when people see "U of I" in the media or on websites, they automatically think UIUC, because that's how they're branded. It's good free publicity for the flagship campus when we do something newsworthy. When something bad happens, it's pinned directly on us, so everyone knows that we did it...not UIUC.
When a crime occurs, it occurs at UIC.
When interesting research is performed, it's by the University of Illinois.
When our research scandal took place in 1999, how many times did you see us referred to as just "University of Illinois"?
The latest is this Chicago RDC site, which lists "University of Illinois", which implies UIUC....it should be UIC or University of Illinois at Chicago! In fact, they have the UIC image on the main page, so why not list UIC instead of "University of Illinois"? A prime example of inconsistency in mere inches on one website.
www.chicagordc.org/
We can't be the UIC College of Medicine anymore....nope it's the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Who caved into the pressure to rename? A UIUC alum. Not only are we not distinguishing ourselves from UIUC, we're actually going out of our way to further unite ourselves with UIUC, for their benefit only.
How would you feel, as a UIC alum, if a UIC researcher discovered the cure for cancer, and the headlines the next morning read "University of Illinois Cures Cancer". Mark my words, it would happen....and it would be a travesty. 99% of the population would believe it's UIUC and would not investigate further....it would just add to their perception that UIUC is a "great" school while UIC is just the little sister....BS.
Grow a pair, UIC...stick up for yourself and fight to be called what you want to be called....and make it happen. Fight to make a distinction between you and UIUC. Quit letting them use you for their benefit....our hard work should not go unnoticed and uncredited, which is precisely what is happening when we're called "University of Illinois".
I feel like an oppressed people....powerless. There's nothing we can do about it....it has to be done by people that care about UIC and have a UIC-first agenda....not a make-UIUC-happy-at-all-costs-even-at-UIC's-expense agenda. But when the Board of Trustees comprises mostly UIUC grads, when our own chancellor is a UIUC grad, when UIUC grads and employess (dean - college of medicine) are renaming our facilities with broader names, and when the media gives two turds about UIC, how can we ever truly advance and make a name for ourselves?