#prairiestars

[lesstalkmorebeauty]

Got accepted to my second-choice school! 😁🎉🎊 #UIS #UniversityofIllinoisSpringfield #PrairieStars

[prairiestars]

A fresh appearance for their school’s sports teams will greet University of Illinois Springfield students when they return to campus for the fall semester in a few weeks. UIS unveiled a new logo during a ceremony on Friday at The Recreation and Athletic Center. The logo, featuring “UIS” and a single motion star, is navy, Vegas gold and white. “We cleaned it up and simplified it,” UIS athletic director Kim Pate said. The release of the logo comes six months after the school announced it would retain the Prairie Stars nickname, which dates back to 1977. A process to examine nickname alternatives began in 2012. Among the proposed name suggestions were Stars, Mammoths, Sabers, Stampede and Springers. Pate assured those in attendance Friday that “Prairie Stars” is here to stay. Free shirts, balls, bracelets, buttons and other items featuring the new UIS and Prairie Stars logos were distributed to those on hand. A tarp was removed from the gymnasium floor and revealed the new logo painted on the court.

"UIS unveils new athletic logo," by Marcia Martinez, SJ-R

[prairiestars]

August 1st!

[prairiestars]

What would you like the UIS community to know, regarding the athletic rebrand?

I certainly was surprised by the amount of interest around the name, and pleasantly surprised I would add. I think it certainly demonstrated that we have people who care about the past, and I’m pleased with that because for us to develop pride it does involve involving tradition – something to be proud about. I know it was difficult for me to understand the past and tradition of what it meant to be part of UIS or the Prairie Stars. I really think that we’re positioned much stronger because of this process, because now we know we do have a story to tell…

[prairiestars]

"Proud to still be a Prairie Star!"

Proud to still be a Prairie Star! Thanks for being reasonable, @UISedu Chancellor Koch. http://t.co/yVROULmCSc

— Luke Runyon (@LukeRunyon) January 28, 2014

[prairiestars]

"Score one for tradition..."

http://t.co/XiaVJMkZSg Score one for tradition (even if it's only decades long). UIS keeping Prairie Stars name

— Bernie Schoenburg (@bschoenburg) January 28, 2014

[prairiestars]

SJ-R Short Takes: UIS Made a Good Move

The University of Illinois Springfield made a good move in abandoning plans to change the school’s mascot from the Prairie Stars to one of four mascots suggested by a consulting firm. The Prairie Stars mascot has been in place since 1977, but current students, apparently puzzled by or bored with the nickname, had pushed for a change. A consultant hired by the university suggested several possible alternatives, including Mammoths, Springers, Sabers and Stampede, none of which caught on with students, alumni or the community. In informal online polls, including one by The State Journal-Register, a majority of respondents suggested keeping the Prairie Stars nickname. Alumni actively pushed for the university to keep Prairie Stars. University officials, including Chancellor Susan Koch, listened to the feedback and made a sound decision that makes the most sense, particularly given the strange alternatives the consultant suggested.

[prairiestars]

WUIS: Decision Made: UIS Will Remain 'Prairie Stars'

UIS Chancellor Susan Koch told WUIS, "Prairie Stars may not be the perfect name, but it's our name. And it's been our name since the 1970s ... it's important that we maintain that heritage and maintain it going forward." Koch did say though that feedback was not as positive about the mascot of a masked boy named Cozmo: "I don't think there's nearly the appreciation for Cozmo ... one of the discussions that folks will be having as we're moving down the road here and working on strengthening the Prairie Stars name a little bit is thinking about is there a better idea out there for a mascot."