New Bearcat logo escapes early

The Bearcat C-Paw, one of the most recognizable logos in college sports, began receiving a face-lift nearly a year ago and was kept in the bag for the last nine months, before being inadvertently let out last week.

Despite UC's attempt to guard the new look, T-shirts bearing the revised logo appeared on shelves in Kroger last week, well before the official release.

The university had hoped to keep its "new and improved" athletic symbol concealed from the public until its official unveiling June 1, just before UC's entrance into the Big East Conference, said Greg Vehr, vice president of Governmental Relations.

"Our hope was to hold off until June 1, as to provide time for vendors to supply merchandising outlets," Vehr said.

Vehr also said UC officials speculate that this was a vendor's attempt to capitalize on the UC and University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball game date.

The T-shirts were spotted by university employees shopping at the grocery chain.

With the help of Kroger's distribution department, UC hopes to pull all prematurely released merchandise from shelves, according to Carla Crabtree, director of licensing at UC.

"Kroger has been extremely helpful," Crabtree said. "There's no possible way [Kroger] knew of the infringement."

Crabtree said the vendor responsible for the printing of the shirts sent to the grocery store is an east-coast company called Crown Prince.

"Crown Prince did not even have a license to manufacture goods for the mass-market outlets, which includes grocery stores," Crabtree said.

Collegiate Licensing Company, hired by UC for all trademarking and legal licensing matters, has been investigating the incident and continues to gather more information regarding the C-Paw printing, according to Crabtree.

The Atlanta-based firm will assist the university in setting the penalties against Crown Prince, she said.

Each vendor signed a non-disclosure contract, agreeing not to send the new C-Paw merchandise to retail outlets before June 1. Crown Prince breached the contract, while the other 314 vendors have complied with university wishes.

The logo was designed by LPK design firm, with a price tag of $35,000.

"It's a shame that the actions of one vendor reflect poorly on this project," Howard Maclvian, design director at LPK said Wednesday, referring to the early release. "We're pleased with the vast amount of work we put forth over the course of eight months."

Maclvian said a total of 12 employees were involved in the planning and design of the logo, including two UC co-ops from the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning and nearly a half dozen UC graduates.

Students getting an early peek at the new logo had mixed reactions Wednesday.

"I don't like it... I think it's a waste of money," said first year mechanical engineering student Ian MacKenzie.

Second-year philosophy student Jason Provins said he disagrees.

"I like it, it looks better," Provins said while looking at the new logo. He did, however, find the price tag a little over the top.

"I think [$35,000] is kind of ridiculous. It looks better, but the old one worked just the same."