Things are looking different on campus this fall, and it’s not all because of COVID-19. The athletic logo has a new look.
Rebranding took place last year to coincide with Northwestern’s new tagline: Raiders Stand Out. There was a desire to do something similar with the athletic logo.
The marketing team decided that the old college logo could not be configured to embody the new “Raiders Stand Out” theme because of a question that came up: What is a Raider?
As a result, the cross from the college logo was deemed the unifying symbol between the athletic programs and the college. By putting the cross on a flag, it is elevating the cross of Christ and keeping it the main focus, therefore letting it “stand out” in the same way students, faculty and staff are called to stand out.
This change drew mixed reactions among members of the NW community, particularly among the student athletes.
Devyn Kemble, a member of the women’s basketball team, said she misses the “I miss the of the former logo.”
A member of the women’s volleyball team, Bekah Horstman, said, “I was surprised at first by the new logo since I enjoyed the original one. I do enjoy seeing the cross at the center of the logo as a representation that God is the focal point of everything we do.”
An athlete who wished to remain anonymous said, “I think this is a pointless change. Most people did not have a problem with the previous logo. Plus the new logo looks kind of strange on the jerseys.”
Some athletes like Deonte Walker a sophomore football member, disagree saying, “I don’t mind it to be honest. I think it looks really good on the apparel we have.” Whether you agree or disagree with the new athletic logo, the fact still stands that we cannot wait to cheer on another year of the Red Raider Athletics.
