INELEGANT TOMBSTONES.  The Northern Illinois University branding initiative has already come up with a tagline, something catchy to go with a trademark.  Forty-five people labored mightily to come up with "Learning today, leading tomorrow."  Don't all applaud at once, folks.  That's more optimistic than "Over Half Finish Within Six Years" and more academic than "Invented Homecoming, perfected Tuesday Night Tailgating."

First the tagline, now the redesigned trademark.  Maybe.  Students, faculty, staff, and alumni are offered a choice.

Choice A

Choice B

The university asked for reactions on a Facebook page.  A sampling: "Terrible."  "Represents the staff and president ... not the student body." "Over-priced community college."  "Altgeld itself doesn't define." "Visual Communication department's opinions of the logos: they are brutal."

The current logo, adopted for our centennial, also incorporates the tower of Altgeld Hall.

Choice B is a more accurate rendition of the tower, but it reminds me of a Stratego piece.