|
|
Post by Rogobob77 on Aug 28, 2022 12:40:56 GMT -5
The Freep gets it wrong. Students get it wrong. The Florida Golf Coast announcer miffs it. Your next door neighbor calls the school by the wrong name. Recruits call us this and that. Our rivals make fun of and mock our confused brand. The Jesuit heritage is obscured. Even the new University President is quoted referring to the institution by officially forbidden words. All this thirty-two years post-consolidation, five years after the high-paid consultants were hired to solve the problem once and for all. Time to admit the name is inherently impossible to brand in a consistent way that best advances the interests of the school. The Emperor has no clothes. I'm down here in North Carolina. Three times recently I have run into Detroiters and I always mention that I went to the University of Detroit (because that was the name when I attended) and each time I was quickly corrected, by both younger and older people, that it is now Detroit Mercy. As far as the Jesuit heritage, I'd be surprised if anyone outside of Metro Detroit knows that the University of Detroit (DeBusschere, Haywood, Vitale) was a Jesuit school. For Catholics who grew up in the Detroit area, yes; for anyone somewhere else, not so much. The same for Boston College, U of San Francisco, Seattle U. Maybe the Jebbies should have named us Loyola of Detroit back in '77. I use “Detroit Mercy” most frequently in current situations (even on this message board) to refer to the institution. In indications (verbal, resume, LinkedIn profile, etc.) of where I went to school or graduated from, however, I say or state “University of Detroit.” I probably have done that hundreds of times since 1990 and in all honesty don’t recall a single instance where someone “corrected” me or otherwise raised the point that the school is now “Detroit Mercy.” As to whether people outside Detroit realize that the University is Jesuit affiliated, you’re probably right, they don’t. But if you ask them what religious order(s) do you think “Detroit Mercy” is affiliated with, they would very much be inclined to say the Sisters of Mercy. So instead of the institution being recognized as a unique Jesuit-Mercy university, they think small school (“is it all-women?” I’ve even heard some speculate) operated by the SOMs. “University of Detroit” brands much more easily as a comprehensive urban institution. IMO opinion they could have used that name but incorporated references to both orders in implementing the branding strategy. They could have officially incorporated as “The Jesuit and Mercy University of Detroit” but brand as “University of Detroit.” The “Mercy” component could be equally presented or even emphasized in all promotional materials, the University seal, naming of the School of Health Sciences, etc. |
|
|
|
Post by nctitan on Aug 28, 2022 16:03:42 GMT -5
And then there was the time when I had on a University of Detroit alumni shirt and a guy looked at the logo and said, "University of Detroit? Is that the one in Ann Arbor?" I said, "No." He looked at me and asked, "Oh, then where is it?"
|
|
|
|
Post by motorcitysam on Aug 28, 2022 16:27:07 GMT -5
Reading the bdeusa report it seems they got it all right, except the brand, the name. The University of Detroit had a 150 year legacy and they let it go. I always thought Mercy should have been a college within the University structure, like Mercy College of something. Mercy College of Nursing should have just become part of the University of Detroit. As far as BDE goes, I think they are taking credit for positive outcomes they actually had little to do with. |
|
|
|
Post by motorcitysam on Aug 28, 2022 16:39:43 GMT -5
I'm down here in North Carolina. Three times recently I have run into Detroiters and I always mention that I went to the University of Detroit (because that was the name when I attended) and each time I was quickly corrected, by both younger and older people, that it is now Detroit Mercy. As far as the Jesuit heritage, I'd be surprised if anyone outside of Metro Detroit knows that the University of Detroit (DeBusschere, Haywood, Vitale) was a Jesuit school. For Catholics who grew up in the Detroit area, yes; for anyone somewhere else, not so much. The same for Boston College, U of San Francisco, Seattle U. Maybe the Jebbies should have named us Loyola of Detroit back in '77. I use “Detroit Mercy” most frequently in current situations (even on this message board) to refer to the institution. In indications (verbal, resume, LinkedIn profile, etc.) of where I went to school or graduated from, however, I say or state “University of Detroit.” I probably have done that hundreds of times since 1990 and in all honesty don’t recall a single instance where someone “corrected” me or otherwise raised the point that the school is now “Detroit Mercy.” As to whether people outside Detroit realize that the University is Jesuit affiliated, you’re probably right, they don’t. But if you ask them what religious order(s) do you think “Detroit Mercy” is affiliated with, they would very much be inclined to say the Sisters of Mercy. So instead of the institution being recognized as a unique Jesuit-Mercy university, they think small school (“is it all-women?” I’ve even heard some speculate) operated by the SOMs. “University of Detroit” brands much more easily as a comprehensive urban institution. IMO opinion they could have used that name but incorporated references to both orders in implementing the branding strategy. They could have officially incorporated as “The Jesuit and Mercy University of Detroit” but brand as “University of Detroit.” The “Mercy” component could be equally presented or even emphasized in all promotional materials, the University seal, naming of the School of Health Sciences, etc. Never in my life have I referred to the University of Detroit and had someone correct me by saying it should be any version of the mercy name. That includes conversations with fans, students, coaches, players, alumni, the athletic director, and the outgoing University president. As has been said before, the Jesuit component of the University is completely buried. The Mercy part is everywhere. That certainly doesn't indicate equity or partnership. That would bother me if I was Catholic and Jesuit. I am sure it bothers members of the University community. |
|
|
|
Post by motorcitysam on Aug 28, 2022 17:06:43 GMT -5
If you have to have a style guide to instruct the media on what to call you, and they still get it wrong, your branding strategy is a failure. Especially if your style guide is a mess of "Call us A, not B, C, or D, but in certain situations you can call us E."
This topic got revived because, when reading a sentence written by a sportswriter, you couldn't be sure if it was referring to our almost 150 year old University or an all-girl suburban high school. The writer is partially responsible for that, but it isn't an isolated incident. On the "this brand isn't working" side, we have 30 plus years of examples, including our own website names (Detroittitans.com, UDMercy.com, etc). On the "everything is fine" side, we have a few personal anecdotes. Seems pretty clear. But it's been pretty clear for awhile. I don't expect anything to change.
|
|
|
|
Post by nctitan on Aug 28, 2022 17:26:17 GMT -5
Sam, as someone who worked in newsrooms for more that two decades, I will tell you that your first sentence is totally incorrect. Style guides are created because writers and editors come and go and both new and experienced ones rely on a style guide to understand and verify proper communications. That's what they are paid to do. The error that started the discussion is the writer's, and editors should have caught it. Their job is to communicate clearly and consistently. So until the Freep and the News arrange with Detroit Mercy to have the University proofread their publications the blame lies with publications that have been given the University's style guidelines.
|
|
|
|
Post by motorcitysam on Aug 28, 2022 17:50:37 GMT -5
If you have to have a style guide to instruct the media on what to call you, and they still get it wrong, your branding strategy is a failure. Especially if your style guide is a mess of "Call us A, not B, C, or D, but in certain situations you can call us E." This topic got revived because, when reading a sentence written by a sportswriter, you couldn't be sure if it was referring to our almost 150 year old University or an all-girl suburban high school. The writer is partially responsible for that, but it isn't an isolated incident. On the "this brand isn't working" side, we have 30 plus years of examples, including our own website names (Detroittitans.com, UDMercy.com, etc). On the "everything is fine" side, we have a few personal anecdotes. Seems pretty clear. But it's been pretty clear for awhile. I don't expect anything to change. How am I incorrect? You think multiple media mistakes on something as simple as the name even AFTER you provided a style guide is a sign of an effective branding strategy? You're either missing the point or purposely focusing on the wrong thing. Do you think that the media needs style guides to correctly identify Michigan State University, Eastern Michigan University, Cleveland State, etc? All of their names are simple, concise, and clear. Our branding could benefit from adopting those traits. |
|
|
|
Post by nctitan on Aug 28, 2022 18:58:10 GMT -5
If you read what I wrote, I said that the reporter and the editors are supposed to adhere to the style. If they don't, they have made the error. And I would further say that if the local media consistently referred to our school as Detroit Mercy the school would be known as Detroit Mercy. If this board labeled your postings as written by motorcitysal and motelcitysam and mysistersam and motownsally whom would you blame for the confusion about your name?
And I reiterate, one purpose of news story writing is clarity. If the readers are unclear about the Mercy cheerleaders, it's shame on the reporter, not on our University.
|
|
|
|
Post by happy on Aug 28, 2022 19:02:16 GMT -5
When it comes to Branding the University failed to ask the Marketing department about Branding. The three basic branding rules...
Simplicity. Simplicity makes a brand great. This means distilling a brand down to one word or feeling. ...
Consistency. If you want customers to truly connect with your brand, their feelings towards your brand need to be consistent.
Ease
No wonder UDM hasn't been able to make it work (See above). UD is simple, consistent and easily understood. Make it easier to brand.
|
|
|
|
Post by motorcitysam on Aug 29, 2022 1:44:56 GMT -5
If you read what I wrote, I said that the reporter and the editors are supposed to adhere to the style. If they don't, they have made the error. And I would further say that if the local media consistently referred to our school as Detroit Mercy the school would be known as Detroit Mercy. If this board labeled your postings as written by motorcitysal and motelcitysam and mysistersam and motownsally whom would you blame for the confusion about your name? And I reiterate, one purpose of news story writing is clarity. If the readers are unclear about the Mercy cheerleaders, it's shame on the reporter, not on our University. You're proving my point. No one calls me anything but Motor City Sam here, because I have made it clear that is my username. I am consistent about it. It was my username on the old board, as well. It is my username on other message boards and social media accounts. It is concise, clear, and simple. It is my brand in this environment. I don't call myself anything else. Contrast that with the University's branding. The school website address is udmercy.edu, even though the school's own guidelines forbids udmercy. The athletics website is detroittitans.com, another forbidden phrase. You can order official merchandise at a site branded the "University of Detroit Spirit Shop". Our own president called us the University of Detroit in a formal interview. (Someone should send him a style guide, I guess.) All that, and you think the main problem with our branding approach is the media? Seriously? |
|
|
|
Post by fan on Aug 29, 2022 8:29:44 GMT -5
Beyond that, the username Motor City Sam started when you started to use it, it had no history. The University of Detroit brand as well as the U of D was well established. "Mercy", added to "Detroit, really was a poor
name decision.
|
|
|
|
Post by motorcitysam on Aug 29, 2022 12:36:50 GMT -5
Beyond that, the username Motor City Sam started when you started to use it, it had no history. The University of Detroit brand as well as the U of D was well established. "Mercy", added to "Detroit, really was a poor name decision. So you're saying I shouldn't change my name to "Motor City Valley of the Sun Sam" since I relocated? 🤔 😁 |
|
|
|
Post by fan on Aug 29, 2022 12:45:48 GMT -5
Sam, if it works for you, maybe MCVSS, but really sometimes rebranding really works, but in my mind adding the Mercy name to a great traditional university didn't make anybody happy, except maybe the Sisters that put up the money, maybe that was what was needed to close the deal, I don't know.
|
|
|
|
Post by ptctitan on Sept 15, 2022 10:42:42 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by JDetroitTitan on Sept 15, 2022 12:04:10 GMT -5
I am glad at least Bryant gets it right. Prediction 50 years from today the school that was call Detroit Mercy will have changed it name to University of Detroit. |
|
