Students Not Happy With New UNH Logo Designs

DURHAM, NH (CBS) - The University of New Hampshire will have a new logo but many are not happy with the options on the table.

A New York firm is tasked with coming up with a new design, and the school's president will select among three finalists.

One option looks like a shield and emphasizes the initials "N" and "H". The second is more abstract, with the letters "N" and "H" encased in a letter "U". And the images on the third represent one of the school's key attractions: it holds land, sea and space grants from the government.

"I don't like them too much," said student Joel Ford.

Many students echoed that sentiment.

"I thought the first two were boring and kind of lame," said student Louisa Normington.

The current logo is based on a clock tower on the Durham campus, but school officials say they would like a logo that represents all three of the school's campuses.

"Change is difficult for people," said UNH Marketing professor Catherine Blake. "A new logo can bring energy to the institution. We're really bringing UNH into the 21st century."

The anticipated price tag being paid to Chermayeff & Geismer & Haviv, the New York firm which came up with the logo choices, is between $91,400 and $108,200.

The school defends the cost.

"It's more than just a design," said UNH spokeswoman Erika Mantz in a statement. "This is about branding the university and it involved extensive market research and countless hours of interviews."

Mantz says the school has received hundreds of responses to the logos and a majority of the feedback is positive.

But a UNH junior has started a Facebook page which criticizes the three options.

Comments range from "This looks awful" to "what terrible logos."

"They were kind of lackluster and dull," said Megan Abaspour, who started the page.

The school's president will make the final choice which is to be unveiled later this year.

A call to Chermayeff & Geismer & Haviv from WBZ-TV for a comment was not returned.