~----------- - Sloan's Jay Fergurson reminisces Online petitons are useless, about past performances in tattoos are beautiful and St. John's and spills the details yuppies don't always save on the band's new album the planet - Page 6 - Page 4 Volume 56 Numbet'·. Just dropping in JUSTIN MADOL Newfoundland-born pro Corey Sheppard pops over a large drop while excited spectators surround the area for a glimpse of the action. See "Pro skateboarders" on page 2 for the details. Faculty, alumni, and will only see 'Memorial', (and that is] is boldly attempting to distance itself frankly, a mistake," she said. "It will from the province in the name of glo­ students condemn make us a generic university." balization." MUN alumna and Faculty of Marketing and Communications MUN's new look Medicine member June Harris shares responded to the allegation on its Drake's sentiment. "It really eliminates web site: "Memorial University's BY PHIL HOWELL our geographic identifier," she said. "It p1ace in the world, as the university of eliminates where people can associate Newfoundland and Labrador, will be The beginning of a video presentation us with." referenced in all the materia]s and ad­ on Memorial's new brand asks the ques­ "Over halfof all Canadian universi­ vertisements that are prepared as part tion, "What have we become?" Ifyou ask ties have a name which incorporates a of the marketing initiative. The uni­ some students, faculty, and alumni, the geographical reference, either a city or versity has no intentions of eschewing answer is "anonymous." a province," added geography professor connections with Newfoundland and Since Marketing and Chris Sharpe. "In fact, probably the ma­ Labrador. As Newfoundlanders and Communications introduced the jority of universities in the world." Labradorians, we share in the pride of $165,000 marketing initiative in May, The complaints have not been just our location." Memorial University of Newfoundland's new logo. an increasing number of people have individual people, however. Both At MUNSU's meeting on June 28, a spoken out against specific parts, or MUN's Graduate Students' Union motion for the union to officially not blob means nothing to me," said MUN a dictionary, stuck their finger on a the entirety, of the strategy. The main (GSU) and the Memorial University support the initiative passed unani­ alumna Bonnie Andrews. "There is no random page, and chose the nearest concern that has been expressed is that, of Newfoundland Students' Union mously. way that I can look at that and say 'Oh verb," he said. "1he linguistic contor­ while the official name ofthe universi­ (MUNSU) have openly condemned "[Newfoundland] will still be on yes, I see what they're saying there that tions which the Division of Marketing ty is still Memorial University of is a .. .' or 'That represents a .. .' or 'They & Communications have had to resort Newfoundland, the words "of did that because... "' to in order to use this would-be slogan in Newfoundland" are not includ­ "This burgundy blob means nothing to me." Andrews is also displeased with the their promotional material has bordered ed in the new logo. new slogan, "Become." Marketing and on the farcical. 'Come East, Go Further', "I was shocked to hear - MUN alumna Bonnie Andrews on MUN's new logo Communications' web site about the on the other hand - while hardly per­ about [it)," said Kirsten Drake, new brand says that the slogan "reflects fect - had a nice ring, and was charac­ a Memorial alumna cur- a concept that we want to embrace in all teristic ofthe university." rently residing in New Brunswick. the dropping of"Newfoundland" from degrees and official documents," said our activities - the word (like Memorial Sullivan spoke out against MUN's "Newfoundland is integral to MUN's the logo. MUNSU VP External Stella Magalios. itself) opens up a lot of possibilities." new brand at a recent Senate meet­ reputation. [By removing it from the "This university was founded as a me­ "But the problem with that is in the logo "It's very vague," said Andrews. It's ing. Though he said he spoke to many logo] you're changing the public face of morial for the fallen soldiers who served [and on] sweatshirts, bookbags, and ev­ very subjective ... it doesn't inspire, people who agreed '4.ith him on the is­ the university." Drake is one ofthe peo­ the country of Newfoundland in the erything like that, ifit'sonly referred to whereas [former slogan] 'Come East, sue, he says his complaints were dis­ ple behind the starting ofan online peti­ world wars," said GSU President Kelly as 'Memorial University', people will call Go Further', does on a number oflev­ missed as a single opinion. "It was made tion aimed at getting "ofNewfoundland" Hickey in a press release. "It's an outra­ it 'Memorial University' and they'll only els." clear that the Division of Marketing & inserted into the logo. Their initial goal geous act of disrespect to propose that call it that. It will no longer be 'Memorial Shannon Patrick Sullivan, a PhD stu­ Communications and the university was 1,000 signatures, but that has since this memory be cast aside in an attempt University ofNewfoundland', whether dent in the math department and re­ administration had already cast their been moved to 1,500. As of Tuesday af­ to modernize the university." it's official or not." cently published author, agrees with lot with the new logo, and there was no ternoon, the total was at 1,201. 'Ihe release continued, "In remov­ The actual look ofthe logo is causing Andrews. possibility ofchanging it at this stage," "By changing the logo, most people ing 'Newfoundland', the university some unrest as well. "This burgundy "It's as if somebody just opened up he said. h JUSTIN MADOL Professional Skateboarders signed autographs for young fans at the Grand Opening of West 49 in the Avalon Mall. Pictured from front to back: Pierre Luc Gagnon, Corey Sheppard, Jesse Landen and Josh Evin. Pro skateboarders show their skills at St. John's park West 49 team ready been open for several months, ed three-time X-games gold med­ Sheppard who stole the show. control by riding the biggest bowls in the riders were forced to wait un­ al winner Pierre Luc Gagnon, orig­ Sheppard was born in the skate park. riders bust tricks til Newfoundland's unpredictable inal West 49 pro Jesse Landen, and Newfoundland and moved to Ontario "The park is cool," said Gagnon weather allowed them an opportu­ Newfoundland-born Corey Sheppard, at age 7 where he spent his youth "but I have a hurt knee and haven't to celebrate grand nity to showcase their skiJls. as well as some local riders with flow learning to skateboard. He recent­ been skating much street lately, so it . The event started early in the af­ sponsorship. ly made the bump to full profession­ wasn't that easy to get used too." opening ternoon with an autograph signing at After the riders had finished greet­ al status and has been turning heads Despite these circumstances, the \.Yest 49 shop, where skateboard­ ing their fans at the shop they retired on the international skateboard scene Gagnon was happy with the results ers of all ages lined up to meet some for a few hours of rest before heading with mind-blowing video and maga­ of the demo. BY JusTIN MADoL of the pros they often see in world­ over to the Northwest Rotary skate zine coverage. "It was mellow you know, and the class magazines and videos. park where hoards of boarders had At one point Sheppard launched kids are happy we hung out with The scene at the Northwest Rotary "[We,re] basicaJly coming out for gathered in anticipation of their ar­ himself over the massive eleven-stair them, so it was good," he said. skateboard park on June 27 felt more the kids, to do a big signing and to rival. drop that locals rarely skateboard be­ The grand opening celebration con­ like a rock concert than a pro skate­ let them meet a pro skateboard team" Speakers blasted upbeat tunes from cause of its size. Hoards ofkids imme­ cluded with a "product toss" - a free board demonstration, as the local said British Colwumbia native and a vVest 49 tent, while the announcer diately ran over and surrounded the giveaway ofgear by the pros with sup­ venue teemed with youth of all ages professional skater Josh Evin. called everyone off the concrete and area while Sheppard sized up the drop. port from the West 49 store. Kids of eager to catch a glimpse of a group Everything from shoes, boards and introduced the sponsored riders. The After several approaches, he blasted a all ages scrambled to get their hands of skateboarding,s elite. They did not body parts were being tagged with the four team members began warming trick over it, but ended up damaging on stickers, clothing, and even entire disappoint. pros' names. up and it wasn't long until the multi­ his board. Still, the crowd cheered as skateboards being thrown from the The demo featured sponsored pro­ "We've signed everything and any­ tudes of spectators were cheering as he retired to the team's van. \Vest 49 tent. At the end ofthe day no fessionals from the \Vest 49 team and thing," joked Evin. "You name it I've the tricks began to hammer down. Gagnon, easily the most success­ one went home disappointed. was put off in celebration of the new signed it." The highlights included a huge back­ ful competitive skater on the team, "School was let out last week," said store's grand opening in the Avalon The other team members to visit side grab from Evin and lofty front­ rode lightly all day due to an injury one excited local.