Union director Whit Hollis, is the man behind the new block U statue.
Two years ago, Hollis was talking with students and colleagues about the lack of “school spirit objects” on campus. To remedy the problem, he and his co-workers settled on a large red block U between the Campus store and the Union.
It took Hollis and his co-workers time to make their idea a reality. All projects that will change the appearance of campus must be approved by a committee that determines if the object will be erected on the site of a possible future building. Hollis is still getting the final numbers for the costs but estimates the block U cost about $15,000.
Hollis said he sees this as an investment in school pride and future tradition.
“I hope that when students and their families come to look at the U and see if this is where they want to go to school, they can take their picture there,” Hollis said.
He hopes the statue also becomes a favorite photo backdrop for students at campus events, such as Redfest, Kerfuffle and commencement.
“I also think it’s going to be a sense of pride as people walk up and down and around that part of campus,” Hollis said.
He said the location of the U is on one of the most heavily trafficked routes on campus.
Some students did not notice the new structure while others felt pride.
“It’s a nice little icon to have on campus,” said Shelby Goodfellow, a freshman in biology. “I have nothing negative to say about it. It’s just there. It’ll be nice for orientation and everything.”
Some students have suggested using the new campus landmark to start traditions at the U similar to other colleges in the state.
“Now we have to start a kissing tradition on the U,” said Makenzie Pavich, a freshman in chemistry.
Pavich said she wants the U to do something like Utah State’s tradition of becoming a “True Aggie” by kissing someone on the large “A” on their campus in Logan.
When Goodfellow heard about the idea of a kissing tradition at the block U, she and her friend Chaz Evans, a freshman in film, laughed.
“It’d be fun,” she said. “Everyone could post Instagram pictures in front of it.”
Evans likewise gave his approval of a future kissing tradition.
“Go for it,” he said. “Just don’t be making out in front of it during classes.”
Hollis expressed enthusiasm upon hearing the possibility of a kissing or photo-taking tradition.
“I love that,” he said. “That’s what I love to hear. It’s the students that will bridle the traditions.”
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