Committee Recommends Replacement for Campus Icon

POCATELLO – The committee charged with developing a plan to replace the former “I” icon on Red Hill has made the recommendation to replace it with another “I”, following more than a year’s discussions.

After multiple engineering studies determined that the “I” would need to be removed because of immediate safety concerns caused by the erosion on Red Hill, a committee was assembled to make a recommendation for its replacement. The committee, comprised of alumni, faculty and staff, community members, students and ISU officials, considered a variety of possibilities to replace the popular University icon.

Originally a “T”, the symbol was first placed on Red Hill in 1916 in recognition of the institution’s evolution from the Academy of Idaho to the Idaho Technical Institute. In 1926, the “T” became a tool for the students to display their desire for a four-year institution by changing their letter into the number “4.” When the Idaho Technical Institute became the University of Idaho Southern Branch in 1927, the “4” became the well known “I” on Red Hill.

“As a committee, we felt that the tradition behind the ‘I’ was a critical part of our University’s history,” said Ryan Sargent, ’09, committee chair and ISU’s associate alumni director. “Our recommendation to the University was to replace the iconic ‘I’.”

The University has accepted the committee’s recommendations, immediately starting work on the conceptualization of the new icon. The location of the new “I” on Red Hill will be determined after a series of soil tests to ensure that the replacement will be stable for years to come. The design and materials, yet to be finalized, will determine the final cost of the project. The ISU Foundation and ISU Alumni Association are already working on plans for the fundraising campaign to support the project costs.

“Over the past year, our alumni have expressed their willingness to support this project, said Dr. Kent Tingey, ISU’s vice president of advancement. “The ‘I’ has been a symbol of Bengal pride for many, many alumni and supporters.”