Athletics controversy could help image, experts say
Two years ago, UAB launched its first ever unified brand campaign for medicine and academics under the common tagline: UAB- Knowledge that will change your world. Now the university’s brand and reputation could get a boost from canceling three athletic programs and recently deciding to bring them back.
“There’s no such thing as bad publicity – even if something becomes known for the wrong reason,” says Dr. Paul Levinson, a Fordham University professor who specializes in images and branding. “It can actually windup having a benefit when you are trying to rebuild or repair a reputation.”
Because there is a large audience interested in knowing what UAB is doing with its football program, the university could have “sort of a silver lining in rebuilding its image,” Levinson said.
Still there are challenges ahead following Monday’s announcement, says Dawn Edmiston, a professor at the College of William and Mary.
“Many will believe that the battle has been won, but perhaps the greatest challenge lies ahead with regard to logistics and funding and that brand building — that brand rebuilding,” said Edmiston. “In many cases this is a very special opportunity for UAB. They must make the most of it. They can not lose that momentum.”
Edmiston says a university’s brand is only as strong as the support it receives from its constituencies the community, its students and alumni.
“A very important part of a university’s role is building that community and athletics has a critical role,” she says, adding that in the long run, athletics can be used to propel the university’s brand, which also allows the academic profile to rise.
The divorce between the U.S. and WHO is final this week. Or is it?
The U.S. is the only country allowed to withdraw from the World Health Organization. And Jan. 22 is the day when Trump's pullout announcement should go into effect. But ... it's complicated.
Trump’s Board of Peace has several invited leaders trying to figure out how it’ll work
It's unclear how many leaders have been asked to join the board, and the large number of invitations being sent out, including to countries that don't get along, has raised questions about the board's mandate and decision-making processes.
Researchers find Antarctic penguin breeding is heating up sooner
Warming temperatures are forcing Antarctic penguins to breed earlier and that's a big problem for two of the cute tuxedoed species that face extinction by the end of the century, a study said.
As Trump dismantles the existing world order, his version is still taking shape
In his second term, the president is embracing a foreign policy that breaks sharply from U.S. tradition. Both supporters and critics say he's upending a global system in place for 80 years.
Polyester clothing has been causing a stir online. But how valid are the concerns?
There has been a lot of conversation on social media about the downsides of polyester. But are those downsides as bad as they're believed to be? Are there upsides?
Trump promised to cut energy bills in half. One year later, has he delivered?
Cheap gasoline, yes. Drill, baby, drill? Not so much. And electricity bills are going up, not down.
