News and Articles
Athletic officials respond to logo outcry
Evan Young
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: University News
Nearly a week after word got out about the eventual removal of the cartoon Bobby Bearcat logo from Northwest athletic promotions and paraphernalia, the athletic department felt some clarification was needed on the issue.
Athletics Director Bob Boerigter and Athletic Marketing Promotions and Licensing Director Morris White, appeared at Tuesday evening's Student Senate meeting to clear up misconceptions and answer questions about the decision.
Boerigter began the presentation by acknowledging the feedback, positive and negative, he had received on the decision-one the athletic department didn't expect would be a big deal, Boerigter said.
"It doesn't make a difference if the issues are large or small; people care," he said.
However, he stressed at several points during the presentation the decision to emphasize the "N" paw logo and make the caricature secondary was made five years ago by a task force that included students.
"We're reporting to you tonight what's already in place," Boerigter said.
Not long after the Missourian reported on the decision last week, students, alumni and community members began protesting it through Facebook groups; a Web site, Savebobby.com; a petition at Saturday's Fall Classic VI at Arrowhead Stadium; among other means.
A lot of the criticism has been directed at White, Boerigter said. He asked the audience to direct any "frustrations" with the decision to him, not White, because the latter was not on staff when the issue was first discussed.
Regarding Saturday's petition, Boerigter said several people who signed came up to him later and said they didn't mean to sign, because they did so thinking Bobby Bearcat, mascot and all, was being phased out.
Bobby the mascot is "alive and well" and is here to stay, he said.
There was also some miscommunication regarding Bobby's presence in this year's homecoming. Contrary to hearsay, student organizations can use Bobby Bearcat in their parade and other homecoming activities, as long as they don't use the old caricature, Senate President Alex Drury said.
In addition to the paw, the athletic department will opt for live photos of the mascot and the new "We see green" bearcat eyes design to replace the old Bobby cartoon on billboards and other athletic marketing campaigns, Boerigter said.
Both Boerigter and White stood by their original argument for phasing out the caricature: more people associate the "N" paw with Bearcat athletics and doing so ends any confusion as to which is the primary University athletic logo.
However, several meeting attendees, including junior Nic Brent, questioned the athletic department's judgment on the decision.
"I just feel like (the Bobby logo) has been such a big part of our tradition, and I don't understand why suddenly there's such a need to get rid of it," Brent said.
Involving students in the initial decision five years ago doesn't necessarily justify its relevance today because those students aren't here now and don't represent the current classes' opinions, Brent said.
Overall, Brent wasn't satisfied with the answers Boerigter and White gave to his questions Tuesday night.
"It appears to me they don't want to listen to students," he said. "I feel like they kind of brushed off our questions quite blatantly."
Boerigter and White also attempted to clear up confusion over the licensing of both the "N" paw and the Bobby cartoon to other businesses and organizations. After establishing the two as primary and secondary logos several years ago, the athletic department sought to have them copyrighted.
This was done to help the athletic department control and monitor who uses the logos and, in some cases, profit off of the use of them, Boerigter said.
By law, any organization, campus or otherwise, that wants to use the logos-including the old Bobby cartoon-must submit a design and have it approved by the athletic department, which White said is part of his job. Designs that alter the original logos' design would not be approved, he said.
However, taking into consideration the athletic department's decision to phase out the old bearcat caricature, neither White nor Boerigter indicated the likeliness of any design using the old logo getting approved.
The men did indicate they would listen to and consider ideas from the senate, including the possibility of a redesign contest for the Bobby cartoon and an official petition to bring back the old design.
Drury said the senate is brainstorming ways to get informed opinions from Northwest students on the logo situation. One possibility is to include questions about the matter on a general student survey some point later this year, he said.
Article courtisy of NWMissouriNews.com
In Bobby case: students talk, who will listen?
OUR VIE
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Opinion
As students who pay to be members of a university, often times we feel that we own a piece of the campus, that we pay for more than just a piece a paper saying we've done enough work to be granted a degree.
Students are passionate about what happens at their university, and one needed to look no further than Tuesday night's Student Senate meeting to see that. Athletic Director Bob Boerigter and Athletic Marketing, Promotions and Licensing Director Morris White spoke Tuesday with students and senators over the recent news that the Bobby Bearcat cartoon logo has been, and will continue to be, phased out in favor of photographs of the mascot or the Northwest paw print logo.
In last week's Missourian we said that as a paper, we were sad to see the logo go, but it has served the University in varying forms for a good 91 years.
In no way could we, or the administration, have predicted the student reaction that followed the article and the Our View that ran last week. Students and alumni reacted by forming Facebook groups and at least one Web site, by commenting on D2 message boards and by leaving at least 30 comments on the Missourian Web site (as of press time).
Tuesday Boerigter and White addressed student concerns with trademark issues and over the phasing out of the cartoon. It seems that although this was decided with student input five years ago, at least a portion of the current student body is not happy with this decision.
What was disheartening for the Missourian to see were certain senators standing up and voicing their opinions during the discussion. Senators, you represent constituents. As the governing body, and the only organization Boerigter and White are willing to work with in this situation, your job is to represent what the student body decides as a whole-not your personal opinion. Maybe you've already talked to members of the student body, but our guess, based on the 2,000-and-some-odd members of the Facebook group, "Bobby Stays or We Go," says that maybe you need to look a little harder for the student body opinion. Especially considering approximately one-third of the student body belongs to this group.
That being said, students, if you feel strongly about cartoon Bobby being phased-out, you need to stand up and let your senators know. They can't represent you if you don't talk to them. Boerigter and White made it clear during the meeting that on this issue they will only work with Student Senate. If you want something done, you need to talk to your representative or come to a meeting and be heard.
Students, alumni and community members, the Missourian is also always willing to run letters to the editor. We only have room for a certain amount of web comments to run each week in the paper, so if you want something published, e-mail us at Northwestmissourian@hotmail.com.
To contact members of Student Senate you can call the Campus Activities Office at 562-1218. Also, senators' e-mail addresses are listed online at Nwmissouri.edu/studentaffairs/ssenate/contact.htm.
Article courtisy of NWMissouriNews.com
Your Man wonders, who's Bobby's master?
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: The Stroller
Asinine.
That's how I'd sum up the athletic department's decision to do away with the Bobby Bearcat logo.
Why would they even consider getting rid of the one thing that has represented our school on thousands of billboards and T-shirts?
Sure, Bobby is a fun mascot, but what's the point of being a bearcat if you can't show it off?
Bobby is the man, the myth and the legend on this campus, next to yours truly of course, and for the athletic department to eliminate him is just stupid.
I came here to be a bearcat, not to be some paw.
Why is the athletic department doing this? Bobby Bearcat is the mascot of Northwest Missouri State University, not solely Northwest athletics.
Since when does the athletics department run this school?
Phasing out the Bobby Bearcat logo is almost as nutty as the Chiefs phasing out their esteemed "KC" logo on an arrowhead.
If the athletic department wants to use the paw as their symbol and not promote a cartoon Bobby Bearcat that's fine, they can do that. But for them to rob the entire University of this treasured logo is wrong, just wrong.
When the governor comes to Maryville, Bobby Bearcat doesn't shake his hand to represent athletics. Bobby doesn't show up to St. Joseph, Mo., in a suit to open a new University center on behalf of athletics and he certainly doesn't march in the homecoming parade to represent athletics.
He is at all these functions because he is the University's mascot and he is there as our character, not as a character of the football team, baseball team and every other sport that we have.
I must say it was nice seeing everyone who came out to support Bobby at Arrowhead Stadium last weekend, but more has to be done.
Say something to your student senator, join and create Facebook groups, leave comments on the Web site for the newspaper that publishes the creative words of yours truly.
It can be done, it is possible.
However, the elimination of Bobby Bearcat doesn't stop at his logo.
The pins each freshman receives at the freshman convocation were switched from the classic Bobby Bearcat pin to the athletic paw.
I don't want a paw, for all this University may know I may not even care about athletics and I'm sure there are other students that aren't hyped up about it either.
At the student senate meeting, a representative of the Rodeo Club was interrupted as she was talking about the T-shirts the group wanted to use with a, "very inappropriate" because it features Bobby lassoing a football player and the words, "football isn't the only sport at Northwest."
I say, very clever.
But more, when did Northwest students lose the right to speak at our own senate meetings?
Well from another prospective, what was done was inappropriate. From that meeting, it was obvious that student opinion doesn't affect the phasing out of our logo. A logo that once represented many faculty members during their time as a student at this school.
Why should we settle for a pin that represents one aspect of the University, as opposed to something that represents the entire institution I chose to attend.
"Once a paw, always a paw," doesn't really have the same ring as "once a bearcat, always a bearcat."
Article courtisy of NWMissouriNews.com
Bobby Bearcat walks tall -- just not as much
Jimmy Myers
Higher Education Reporter
Bobby Bearcat isn't dead.
The mascot of Northwest Missouri State University for the past 91 years is present at every big university event, sometimes in a suit, sometimes in a jersey. He's seen shaking the hand of Missouri's governor every time he visits. He's at every home football and basketball game - and he'll continue in that tradition.
But the caricature, which features a white cartoon bearcat wearing a green sweater, has been slowly phased out over the last few years in favor of his paw print. The move has only recently sparked interest among alumni and students.
"The paw has been very, very popular," Athletic Director Dr. Bob Boerigter said of the logo of the bearcat paw print with an "N" in the middle. The logo is emblazoned on the stadium, football field, uniforms, athletic letterhead and on staff shirts. "That's the way we've been moving."
Dr. Boerigter was surprised to find himself fielding questions Saturday about the demise of Bobby Bearcat at the football game at Arrowhead Stadium. But it wasn't about the caricature - students and alumni were under the impression that the actual mascot was being discontinued.
A Web site has sprung up addressing the issue at www.savebobby.com. Several comments on the site also seem to come from those think that the mascot is being discontinued. Others argue that "the Bearcat stands for so much more. Do you see a Paw running around at games?"
Alex Drury, president of Northwest's student senate, said there has been some miscommunication among students that is partially causing controversy. However, he said, others who are up to speed on the issue are still upset that the university is phasing out the caricature.
Dr. Boerigter said is not "illegal" to use the Bobby Bearcat caricature. But, the logo is trademarked and its use by outside and on-campus groups must be approved by Northwest.
"We're not burying him," Dr. Boerigter said of the caricature.
Shawn Wake, a computer technical director at Northwest, believes the caricature is a tradition that should be maintained. Having never lived more than a half-mile from campus, he grew up with the caricature and donned the Bobby Bearcat costume while he attended Northwest is the late 1980s and early 1990s.
"It's like taking away the (administration) building or the bell tower. It's recognizable to a lot of people," he said.
Brooke Beason, secretary of the student senate, said the students, though some have been misinformed, have reacted passionately over the issue. "That's the great thing about Northwest," she said, "We are a university where our students - they want their voice heard."
Dr. Boerigter and athletic marketing director Morris White will attend a student senate meeting at Northwest at 7 p.m. tonight to field questions regarding the issue.
Article courtisy of St. Joe News Press
Bye Bye Bobby bearcat
University phasing out Bearcat logo, focusing promotions on paw
Dominic Genetti
After 91 years as the symbol of Northwest, the bearcat is being phased out and will soon become nothing more than a costume. In order to focus on promoting the logo bearing a large "N" on a bearcat paw, athletic department officials have decided to do away with the Bobby Bearcat logo that shows him ready to fight and wearing a sweatshirt. The mascot will still appear at athletic and special events. "For there to be so much pride and everything into Northwest, we want our logo to be represented in the correct way," said Morris White, athletic marketing, promotions and licensing director. Phasing out the bearcat logo gradually began last year, but has steadily increased. White said phasing out the Bobby Bearcat logo eliminates confusion over the primary logo for Northwest athletics. "Since everyone who are fans or alumni and people who know Northwest, the one thing that they think of is the paw, even though Bobby is an athletic symbol as well," White said. "The paw is the most recognizable thing when you talk about athletics or not." Next to the paw, the athletic department is looking to use actual photos of the Bobby Bearcat mascot to promote University sports. "Over time we've been able to take photos of our mascot, Bobby Bearcat, and be able to utilize that in a lot of promotional materials, billboards and things of that nature," Athletics Director Bob Boerigter said. "We want the paw to be our main mark, so to speak, and we think it's more reflective of what we want in our market." Bearcat fans don't see a need for elimination of the Bobby Bearcat logo, but some do call for possible improvements of the illustration. "That's not even cool," sophomore Mason Becker said. "Bobby Bearcat's our mascot, they can't just take away the symbol of him." Maryville resident Jenny Keever doesn't see a need to do anything with the logo. "I might be old fashioned, but I'd go with this one," Keever said. "I think this is more calmer for people." Junior Autumn Disney said a fiercer, scarier Bobby Bearcat logo could work, but fellow junior Libby Olenhouse thinks the logo should be left alone. "I don't understand why it should be gone, it's our school, that's our mascot, that needs to be on shirts and everything," Olenhouse said. The Bobby Bearcat logo is welcoming and shouldn't be touched, Maryville resident Dan Faulk said. "Leave it for the families and for the kids," Faulk said. Possible redesigns of the Bobby Bearcat logo are not planned for the future, however. Boerigter said student and public input could spark ideas. "That's all possible, we haven't had conversations about it at this point," Boerigter said. "We're always open to change, we don't want anything to be entrenched in concrete." The department would look at the advantages to bringing the logo back and what updates could be made, Boerigter said. Within the past seven years, new logo designs were proposed to the University, but a possible merger with the University of Missouri system brought things to a halt. "At that point we really backed off that, because our concern at that time, was if we went into this merger, we wanted to convince alums and students that were here, that more things are going to stay the same, they weren't going to change," Boerigter said. Proof of the dissipation of the Bobby Bearcat logo is imminent in new billboard signs and at Bearcat Arena. New billboards promote the phrase "We see green" with a staring bearcat portrayed with green eyes. "That was something I've done from the more athletic marketing aspects of it," White said. "It's something that can be used for years and years. "I think that it's important that those people who hear about or see Northwest Missouri State, they know that our athletics teams are very competitive." The new billboards have triggered some reaction. "Whenever you change a logo, there's always going to be some backlash from people who may be passionate about something," White said, "but with any company or school that does that, it's done for the better." At Bearcat Arena, the athletic department is replacing the five Bobby Bearcat heads on the building's façade with five Northwest paw logos. Four of the paw logos have been placed, but the fifth was stolen. "As they were installing them, somebody walked off with the last decal that was laying in the lobby," Boerigter said. Boerigter said the decals cost between $100 and $150. "We brought campus safety up and filed a stolen goods report," Boerigter said. "We hope we're going to get it back." Recent activity toward the logo brought miscommunication for homecoming celebrations. The athletic department trademarked and licensed the paw and bearcat logos causing the confusion. "Before we became licensed, before we registered those logos, you could manipulate and do anything you wanted to those caricatures," White said. Despite the licensing, Boerigter reassures homecoming celebrations and themes can feature Bobby Bearcat. "We just prefer when they promote that in print, they promote that with a photograph of him as opposed to the old sketch caricature," Boerigter said. Among all the changes occurring, Boerigter is satisfied with current promotions. "I like what we have now, and the fact that the paw is our mark and we like Bobby as the mascot," he said. Yet for freshman David Cheadle, Bearcat players are doing enough and a change in the logo doesn't change anything. "Honestly if they want to put it towards sports, we'll just let the team put fear in (opponents), I don't see why they have to change up the mascot like that," Cheadle said.
Article courtisy of NWMissouriNews.com