Surprised it took them so long...

[CowbellGuy]

[q]
Dear Mr. Manocchia,

I have recently visited the web site http://www.hockey.cornell.edu/ and noted the use of the Cornell Athletics Bear logo with the image of a metal screw superimposed over it with the following caption "SCREW CORNELL ATHLETICS".  The Cornell Athletics Bear logo and "Cornell Athletics" are trademarked properties of Cornell University. A check with the Athletics Office indicates permission was not sought to use either the logo or the Cornell name.  This is a violation of Cornell's policy regarding the use of its name and marks enforceable under The Campus Code of Conduct.

Since this appears to be a site for which you are acting as custodian, you are deemed to be the responsible party.  Therefore, be informed that the Cornell Athletics Bear logo, the phrasing "SCREW CORNELL ATHLETICS", and the screw that you have allowed to be posted at this site are to be removed at once.  The posting has been done without permission and is  considered offensive and disparaging of the Athletics Department and the University in general.

I noted the trademarked logos for the NCAA, ECAC, and The Ivy League are posted at the http://elf.hockey.cornell.edu/list.php?f=1 site. If you have not already sought permission from these organizations to use their marks, I advise you to contact them.

Should you wish to discuss this matter, please contact me.

Robert G. Reese
Director - Product Licensing
University Relations
110 Day Hall
Cornell University
[/q]

[Ben Doyle 03]

Fine if Age can't say it, I will. . .Screw Cornell Athletics and their ugly logo to!

 ::twitch:: Oh wait. . .is that against the code of conduct??? ::twitch::

[nshapiro]

As an undergrad at Cornell, everyone knew that the University was only marginally interested in your progress.  Nobody - unless you were very lucky and had a good advisor - paid much attention to you.  It was up to the student to get involved, be pro-active in seeking out activities.

I felt that this changed significantly when one graduates.  Suddenly, we are a valuable commodity.  Active alums are sought to participate in alumni interviewing, are treated great at reunion, and have great regional Cornell Clubs.  I know that the not-so-secret objective of providing these services is fundraising, and many Cornellians give willingly and generously.  Perhaps the undergraduate degree is some sort of badge of achievement that we are now proud of.  We rememeber the good times, and forget the indifference Cornell showed us a undergrads.

This (more the CollegePass service than the trademark infringement - but I started my rant here)  contemptuous treatment of Alumni is something that is out of step with all my other contact with Cornell since graduation.  

I think that someone outside the Athletic Department needs to start some damage control.  Alumni (at least active ones) tend to look back on their college experience with rose colored glasses.  The performance of the Athletic Department subverts that tendency by reminding us of what dealing with Cornell was like when we were undergrads.

[Red Apple Rest]

It's similar to the fact that parking tickets are typically not given during reunion weekends, for the reason that collecting a measly $5 or $10 from an alum could mean the difference between receiving a couple of grands in donations or diddly squat.

It's a shame that the AD has decided to piss off the alums.  I found myself thinking twice the other day when I received a notice to pay for my class dues.

[jtwcornell91]

The screw logo was clearly provocative, but it seems to this layman like it might qualify as fair use, since it's obviously an editorial statement rather than an attempt to falsely represent the athletic department.

[Red Apple Rest]

How about something like...

"Screw BU, The AD Too"

for the logo?

[Josh '99]

Age Manocchia '98 wrote:

Therefore, be informed that the Cornell Athletics Bear logo, the phrasing "SCREW CORNELL ATHLETICS", and the screw that you have allowed to be posted at this site are to be removed at once.

Wait, so...  the screw was trademarked too?   ::nut::

[melissa\'01]

oh my god. the athletic dept is being run by nitpicking morons. why am i surprised? you all have permission to hit me upside the head at my first game.

i like the changes to the artwork in question Age.

i haven't paid my class dues yet or mailed my pledged contribution to cornell - maybe i simply won't now. this is freakin rediculous. god forbid that one have a voice.

stupid, stupid athletic office. i never did like those people.

[Al DeFlorio]

I hope we've all taken the time to email Noel and the subordinate he's apparently designated to handle unpleasant issues, Anita Brenner, to express our disappointment and irritation at this really stupid and short-sighted decision.  [For what it's worth, it took 39 days to get a three-sentence response from Brenner to my email to Noel.]

Unfortunately, I neglected to ask what is probably the operative question:  How much would it in fact have cost to provide the Internet broadcasts free?  The bottom-line issue is really: Was it worth pissing everyone off (with all consequent ramifications) to avoid that cost (since the party line now appears to be "we expect not to profit from this")?  It would also give us an idea if it would have been feasible for some of us to have offset most or all of that cost with donations, thereby sparing us all of this bullshit, had someone been clever enough to ask.

I'm also thinking of a letter to Cornell Magazine.  There's a very effective protest from a classmate of mine in the November/December issue regarding the firing of the Arts and Sciences Dean, who apparently learned of his dismissal via an email.  Letters-to-the-editor go to cornell_magazine@cornell.edu.

[Al DeFlorio]

Josh Herman '99 wrote:

Wait, so...  the screw was trademarked too?   ::nut::

Probably by the Athletics crowd...::rolleyes::

[Lisa McGill]

I emailed the Athletics Dept, too, though of course I haven't gotten any sort of response.  

Al wrote:
[Q]
I'm also thinking of a letter to Cornell Magazine. There's a very effective protest from a classmate of mine in the November/December issue regarding the firing of the Arts and Sciences Dean, who apparently learned of his dismissal via an email. Letters-to-the-editor go to cornell_magazine@cornell.edu.
[/Q]

Maybe we should combine forces?  Someone write a letter to the AD and Cornell Magazine, with as many signatures as we can gather?  

The part of me that was trained by being a Cornell undergrad thinks it's all useless anyway, but I'm pissed enough to try . . .

[crodger1]

Do I need to contact someone before I am allowed to wear my Cornell jersey?  I guess I will have to forgo making any signs saying "Go Cornell."  Perhaps "Go C0rnell" is a non infringing alternative (or "Go C-rnell").

[Al DeFlorio]

Neil Shapiro '83 wrote:

This (more the CollegePass service than the trademark infringement - but I started my rant here)  contemptuous treatment of Alumni is something that is out of step with all my other contact with Cornell since graduation.

Interesting observation, Neil.  

One wonders if we may be barking up the wrong tree.  Perhaps we should introduce Cornell's VP for Alumni Affairs and Development, Inge Reichenbach, to this happy situation.  ["Contemptuous" is a superb choice of word, by the way.]  I suspect Inge has a rather broader view of the alumni world than the moles in Athletics, who can't seem to see beyond their little spreadsheets.

[JohnnyB]

Very nice new graphic, Age....  Very nice....


-John

[CowbellGuy]

It was the stupidest looking bear I could find in a pinch.

As for Al's question, as I have told them, it would have cost them nothing (at least this year) as I could have handled all the broadcasting duties for all the sports myself quite trivially. But since ::rolleyes:: couldn't be bothered to consult me, despite what he/she/it has gone around saying...