Logo Being Developed for Ithaca Athletics Identity

While Ithaca College’s student-athletes have long made a name for themselves—and for the institution—in the world of sports, the College is hoping that soon the world will be able to put a face to that name. A committee is now working with a design firm to create a logo to represent Ithaca athletics on materials ranging from game programs to T-shirts.

"The graphic could go on just about any material, except for team uniforms, to help give Ithaca College athletics a visual identity," says Betsy Alden, director of intercollegiate athletics. "This, in turn, will help promote the entire institution to a wider audience."

In the interests of ensuring that as many viewpoints as possible are considered, the College has engaged the services of a marketing communications design firm, Windsor Street Design Associates of Rochester, New York, to help conduct a comprehensive research process. As part of that process, WSDA will be facilitating a series of candid focus group conversations on campus in February. Individuals representing a wide spectrum of the College community—alumni, faculty, staff, coaches, students, and student-athletes—have been invited to participate in these conversations. The focus group sessions will be facilitated by members of the Windsor Street team.

Alden had helped create a logo when she was athletics director at San Francisco State University, which she says aided greatly in promoting the university as a whole. She believes Ithaca College, with its storied sports history, should also have a specific athletics logo in addition to the long-used College seal.

"This effort is not being done to challenge the tradition of the Bombers nickname, and there is no mandate to change it," she notes. "We will consider all of the input provided by the focus groups and WSDA to determine what kind of identity—including a nickname and mascot—best represents Ithaca College athletics when taken as a whole."

Joining Alden on the committee are Mike Bovi, director of College stores; Peter Kilcoyne, manager of printing services; Jack Oblak, vice president for student affairs and campus life; Anne Ryan, development associate for communication; Marina Todd, director of publications; and Mike Warwick, sports information director. Also serving on the committee will be a representative from each of the focus group constituencies. Alden says they hope to make a final recommendation to President Peggy R. Williams by this summer.