From: The Citadel Athletics [email protected] Subject: A Message from The Citadel Athletics Date: June 17, 2021 at 4:00 PM To: [email protected]

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Alumni and Fans of The Citadel Bulldogs: Last week, we unveiled a brand refresh for The Citadel Athletics. We wanted to create consistency in cadet-athlete uniforms and other items as they represent The Citadel at home and around the nation.

The branding includes a ‘Block C’ logo, a bulldog logo, wordmarks, and standardized colors. You can review the refreshed athletics branding in The Citadel's newsroom here.

We've received questions that I want to address, and you'll find a list of those questions with answers below. A few highlights:

We conducted a thorough process engaging over 300 constituents – including alumni – in developing these logos. This refresh does not include changing Spike the Bulldog. Spike remains a licensed trademark of The Citadel. Products featuring Spike are and will continue to be available in the bookstore and through licensed vendors.

I appreciate your time and attention. Go Bulldogs!

Very Respectfully,

Cardon Crawford Interim Vice President for Communications and Marketing The Citadel

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Frequently Asked Questions about the Athletics Brand Refresh

How were alumni informed about this project?

The project was announced 5 February 2021 through The Citadel's newsroom, social media channels, and a placement in the Post and Courier.

How were alumni engaged in this project?

Alumni were invited to provide their input by completing an online feedback form or signing up to participate in listening sessions. We received 126 submissions via the online feedback form, all of which were thoroughly reviewed and considered.

Additionally, 24 listening sessions were held in two parts –– 12 at the onset of the project (before any design work), and 12 follow-ups reviewing design drafts. Groups represented included:

· Current cadets · Current cadet-athletes · Coaches · Athletics staff · Cadet-athlete alumni · Corps of Cadets alumni · College faculty and staff

Over 150 people across these groups were invited to participate in listening sessions. One-third represented alumni.

Roughly 120 people participated in the first round of listening sessions, and about 75 returned for the second. Those who could not attend were invited to complete a digital survey of the same questions asked during the live sessions.

In addition to listening sessions, the Office of Communications and Marketing fielded numerous calls with alumni and other stakeholders, participated in events with Citadel Alumni Clubs, and participated in ongoing dialogue over the course of six months, keeping stakeholders engaged and informed.

When combining submissions from our online feedback form, participants from our listening sessions, and other means of engagement, over 300 stakeholders our listening sessions, and other means of engagement, over 300 stakeholders were consulted and contributed to the project's work.

How were the new logos approved?

Following the listening sessions, the Vice President for Communications and Marketing presented final findings and recommendations to General Walters. With Gen. Walters' approval, those recommendations were presented to the Board of Visitors, who voted to adopt the logos launched on 9 June 2021.

What will happen to Spike the Bulldog?

Spike the Bulldog continues to be a licensed trademark of The Citadel as part of our legacy asset program. Alumni and fans will continue to be able to purchase products featuring Spike from The Citadel's campus bookstore and through licensed partners. This is also true for the iconic ‘Leaping Bulldog’ that has been in circulation since the 1960s.

Why does the new bulldog look similar to other bulldog logos?

The Citadel's new bulldog logo is a three-quarter profile of an English bulldog, specifically designed to resemble The Citadel's current living mascot, Gen. Mike Groshon (G3).

The three-quarter profile is a traditional and common treatment for athletics logos, and the bulldog is one of the most common mascots in college sports. There are inevitable similarities between our new bulldog logo and those of other institutions. This does not constitute plagiarism or infringement on their intellectual property rights. Copyright © 2020 The Citadel Athletics Department, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is: Citadel Athletics 171 Moultrie Street Charleston, SC 29409

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