Author: admin

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    The New UC Logo is Just Part of a Fad

    Byadmin

    OK. Enough fun with the new UC logo.  But let’s forget the rationale about how it was done to look nice on the Internet.  What we have is a general fad about simplifying old logos to make them look “cool” and “modern.”  UC got swept up in the fad. Take a look at the old and new city logo for Santa Monica above.  The old one was, well, old fashioned with its Latin phrase (even though it does have little helicopters).  So someone did to the Santa Monica logo what UC has done to its logo.  The difference was that…

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    Trivial Pursuit?

    Byadmin

    The California State Auditor examines the accounts of state agencies including UC.  Chapter 8 of its latest report focuses on an unnamed administrator who came from CSU and apparently misspent travel funds there to the tune of over $150,000 before arriving at UC.  When this problem at CSU became known, UC tightened up the oversight of the administrator’s UC travel.  Nevertheless, the auditor found a few thousand dollars in improperly charged UC travel expenses. From Chapter 8: …In October 2012 the university reported that it intends to seek reimbursement from the official for the wasteful expenses identified in this report….

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    Given the Sacramento Bee’s editorial on the UC logo, could there be a movie deal in the works?

    Byadmin

    Sacramento Bee Editorial: Was UC’s new logo fully flushed out? …The trouble is, the image reminds many people of what happens when they hit the commode lever… … (C)ouldn’t UC have come up with a better name for this symbol than “the lock-up”? As the university says on its website, under a category called Brand Guidelines, “the UC lock-up reinterprets the classic elements of the seal into a vibrant, visually energetic, engaging and relevant identifier.” The website goes onto to remind readers, “It’s more than a logo … It’s a system.” Perhaps so, but at this point, we are not…

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    Gas Line Leak Reported at Sproul Circle

    Byadmin

    A message was sent at 10:36 AM this morning by the Bruin Alert service:Natural gas line break at Sproul Circle.  Use caution and avoid area until further notice.Update: An all-clear message was received at 11:03 AM.Two comments asked where Sproul circle was.  I assume it is the area shown below in front of Sproul Hall: See Sproul Hall turnaround below:

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    Logoland is a small world after all!

    Byadmin

    It is said that the upside-down elephant logo for UC – see all of our previous and delightful posts – had to be introduced because the old one can’t be seen well on the web. From the LA Times today:…UC officials were caught on the defensive. They emphasize that the traditional seal, with its “Let There Be Light” motto, a drawing of an open book and the 1868 date of UC’s founding, is not being abandoned and still will be used on such things as diplomas and official letterhead. But they say that the 1910 seal is so ornate that…

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    Campus Climate Survey Promotional Materials

    Byadmin

    Blog readers will know that a UC-wide campus climate survey was developed after various incidents on the campuses.  There has been concern that because of the length of the survey instrument, participation would be low and mainly confined to those with concerns.  According to the promotional materials for department chairs and similar administrators – see the link below – there are lottery-type financial and non-financial prizes available to participants to obtain at least a 30% participation rate. Use the search engine on this blog to find earlier posts on the survey including audio of a presentation by the woman conducting…

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    Yet More Clues on the New UC Elephant Logo

    Byadmin

    In prior posts, we have puzzled over the new UC logo and, particularly, why – when viewed upside down – it resembles an elephant’s behind. Thanks to UCLA Professor Karen Orren, who located the YouTube video below, we may now have a clue as to the designer.[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He7Ge7Sogrk?feature=player_detailpage]Update: Inside Higher Ed reports that 30,000 signatures have been gathered on a petition against the new logo:http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/12/10/u-californias-new-logo-sparks-outrage The petition is at:http://www.change.org/petitions/university-of-california-stop-the-new-uc-logo

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    Rebenching: UCLA Academic Senate Prefers More Rather than Less

    Byadmin

    The benches may be old but we like them. The “rebenching” issue has resurfaced.  Basically, what is at stake is the formula by which UC money is divided up among the campuses.  The Daily Bruin today reviews the issue and the view of the UCLA Academic Senate: The response states that the Senate is “adamantly opposed” to the current proposal – known as rebenching – and outlines the potentially negative impacts it could have on the UCLA campus… …Rebenching aims to equalize funding per student across all of the UC campuses by distributing state funds to each campus based on set student enrollment…

  • Hindsight on yesterday’s post on the new UC logo; did we get our money’s worth?

    Byadmin

    …(T)he new design…  was created by an in-house design team at no extra cost to the university.* *From Los Angeles Times blog, HEADLINE: “Critics say new UC logo is not dignified enough,” 12/8/12:Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/12/critics-say-new-uc-logo-is-not-dignified-enough-.htmlAs the headline suggests, there is an issue about dignity.  An observer (who will remain unnamed) has pointed out to yours truly that the new logo, when turned upside-down, resembles the rear end of an elephant.  On the other hand, if you are in close quarters with an elephant, it’s probably better if it is walking away from you than towards you. If – despite the controversy – UC decides to…