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It’s about the message received, not the message sent

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Illinois

* Call me crazy, but putting this particular slogan on the side of a semi-truck may not be the best way to convince potential students to load up on college debt…

Eastern Illinois University is betting it will catch the eyes of potential students with a rolling message on the side of big-rig trucks.

The Charleston school said in a Tuesday news release that four trucks that belong to the Rural King retail chain will haul trailers bearing Eastern Illinois’ logo and messages such as “Our Alumni Go Places” over an 11-state area.

Um, couldn’t “Our Alumni Go Places” imply to travelers that the driver is an EIU alum? And, if so, how does that help?

Hey, there’s nothing wrong with truck drivers. My father and his father both drove trucks for a living. I’m just saying this is a weird juxtaposition and not particularly well thought-out.

* Perhaps we can come up with a better slogan for the struggling university to put on the side of semi-trucks?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:15 am

Comments

“We Can Only Go Upward.”

“This Way To Uncertainty”

“Bring A Friend!”

“Best Student-Professor Rating and Getting Better Daily”

“Dorm Rooms Still Available”

Help Put Fun Into Whatever Funding We Get”

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:20 am
Where else can you find a truck driving program taught by faculty with doctorates? Sure, they are doctorates in subjects like history, art, physics, and computer science but those faculty needed jobs after all of their programs were gutted.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:22 am
Lifted from the top google review of the university:

“The food was surprisingly good, with lots of different dietary options.”

Comment by AlfondoGonz Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:23 am
“We’re reducing tuition by cutting back on play-doh, comfy pillows and therapy dogs!”

Comment by TheDopeFromHope Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:23 am
EIU-Haul

Comment by My New Handle Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:25 am
I’m rooting for Eastern, but they need money and students, not my best wishes.

My hope is funding comes soon, and marketing on trucks is but a beginning to the rolling out of ideas to expand the public profile.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:27 am
“Honk and You’re In!”

While certainly funding is a large problem for EIU, put this in the “questionable administration decision making” column.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:30 am
“Our Alumni Go Places–Prospective Students Go Other Places”

Comment by Cubs in '16 Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:30 am
EIU - follow us - we’re on the way to another state!

Comment by doofusguy Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:33 am
Rent this truck to haul your stuff to your dorm at Mizzou!

Comment by South of Sherman Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:37 am
“EIU: Pretty soon the entire university will fit in this truck!”

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:42 am
Knowledge is good

Comment by Jose Abreu's next homer Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:43 am
Eastern-Bound and Down
Loaded up and Truckin’
We gonna do what they say can’t be done.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:49 am
EIU-3 out of 5 vowels recommend.

Comment by OurMagician Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:51 am
“Diesel Stands for Diploma”

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:51 am
“Apply here for a free-ride scholarship”

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 11:57 am
That is likely more marketing than the administrators did between 2010-14, when enrollment dropped 23%.

Comment by Piece of Work Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:01 pm
“the medium is the message”

Comment by Juvenal Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:06 pm
“Eastern Illinois bound and down.
Loaded up and truckin’.
We’re gonna do what they say can’t be done.

We’re facin’ budget problems.
We’re advertisin’ with billboards.
Just watch our drivin’ students run.”

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:09 pm
“Perhaps we can come up with a better slogan for the struggling university to put on the side of semi-trucks?”

Eastern Illinois University: A Truckin’ Mess

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:10 pm
“Ask me how (more specifically, where) to get a MAP grant!”

If this cab is rockin’, don’t bother knockin’…learnin’ is goin’ on!

Comment by Jocko Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:11 pm
Or: It’s what’s received that matters, not what’s intended.

Comment by Deft Wing Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:12 pm
Enroll in EIU today and get your degree from The University of Illinois at Charleston in 4 years.

Comment by Postbot 6000 Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:13 pm
Earn a degree!
Feed the beast.

Comment by Langhorne Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:15 pm
Learn Driver Safety at a Safety School with our new BA/CDL Program!

Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:16 pm
Second attempt —–

Four trucks covering 11 states!

Spend this money on lobbying their local Raunerites and the entire GA.

This is a fight for your survival but I am uncertain this will help.

But, just remember - Governors Own.

Comment by illini Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:18 pm
@ Piece of Work

Part of the enrollment drop was purposeful. Violence was us. They had lowered their recruiting standards. And after three years of large, gun shooting parties (literally) the community finally said enough is enough.

Comment by LibrarianRyan Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:19 pm
Imagine the photo op if heaven forbid one of these trucks ends up jackknifed in a ditch.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:21 pm
President Glassman was very excited to put out this press release of “Eastern buys marketing.” I welcome you all to investigate the incompetence further, but that would take months.

Comment by Annoyed@EIU Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:24 pm
This article is reminding me of a co-worker I once had who went to EIU and said his freshman year roommate dropped out to become a trucker. Hmmm.

Also reminding me of a chart I saw where the most common job in Illinois as of 2014 was trucker. Is there anything to be done when robot trucks take these jobs away? Maybe EIU can research something?

Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:32 pm
So LibrarianRyan, was the marketing push back then to attract bad dudes? What exactly happened that has sent EIU enrollment spinning downward?

Comment by Piece of Work Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:33 pm
=Part of the enrollment drop was purposeful. Violence was us. They had lowered their recruiting standards. And after three years of large, gun shooting parties (literally) the community finally said enough is enough.=

You’re clueless. Or racist. Or maybe both.

Comment by MSIX Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:38 pm
MSIX, I’m not familiar with EIU, but the same sort of thing happened in Carbondale and SIUC has since raised admissions standards and purposely lowered enrollment.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:50 pm
EIU is run by many of the ‘town folk’. A recent letter to the editor is a prime example of the mentality in and around Coles County. Am I surprised the administration thought it was a good idea to place advertising on a semi trailer, not at all.

http://jg-tc.com/news/opinion/letter-liberals-are-fat-lazy-slobs/article_48ea5eb9-377b-5077-aea5-49f28b001b0f.html

Comment by Sad EIU Alumn Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:53 pm
Talk about reading too much into something…

Comment by Liberty Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 12:58 pm
“EIU - graduate from loading to driving!”

Comment by Ken_in_Aurora Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 1:02 pm
@Sad - Wow -What a letter - not surprising that it was published.

Coles County did vote accordingly. And EIU will continue to suffer and wither.

Comment by illini Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 1:08 pm
Don’t know what they spent on the Truck ads, but we were down SIUC for the state science fair two years ago (they moved it from U of I) and I have to say I walked away kind of surprised and impressed.

Seemed like a much better school than what I recall from HS, for what it is worth I would argue the state school I went to in the opposite direction has seen it’s rep go down since I was there (not because I left, I swear).

Comment by Oneman Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 1:14 pm
This is what happens when your marketing firm doesn’t get paid for two years.

Still, better than D+

http://www.radioiowa.com/2010/09/10/drake-drops-d-campaign/

Comment by Anon Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 1:28 pm
Our Eastern Illinois University students and Alumni are movers and shakers. Check us out.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 1:49 pm
I wasn’t wild about this idea for the reasons you all mention. This was the president’s idea btw.

Comment by Chucktownian Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 1:50 pm
Guaranteed Rate University!

Comment by 4 percent Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 2:29 pm
The campaign does not come close to the worst decision I have seen in state government or in higher education. EIU has a lot of amazing programs and services. It also has an endearing mission to reach out to the first generation college students when many institutions of higher education only cater to the most promising students. I am not originally from Charleston nor am I an alum but I appreciate the dedication, hard work, and passion of the administration, faculty, and staff at EIU. President Glassman as well as the VPs work incredibly long hours. Many of the staff have taken on 2 or 3 positions. Not because it is required but because EIU genuinely loves their students.

Comment by Give_EIU_A_Break Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 2:58 pm
Working long hours but still doing incredibly laughable stuff with marketing dollars isn’t really impressive. If EIU loved their students and cared so much then the admin wouldn’t be firing much-needed teachers and diluting the quality of education while hiding the huge subsidies athletics gets. Get real… Their mismanagement over time is easily 90% of the reason EIU is struggling.

Comment by EIU_Deserves_No_Break Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 3:15 pm
- EIU_Deserves_No_Break -

Yeah, Rauber is funding the university at zero.

What other governor ever did that?

Keep up.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 3:27 pm
@MSIX As someone who went to EIU when the party shooting happened, that was a major factor for quite a few people. One of the perks of EIU is the small town feel and safety for students and residents. It was a conscious decision to raise the Standards so that not everyone with a pulse could get in. EIU needs to transition from a mostly teaching based student body to a more diverse crowd. Trucking, medical, and other industries could help the school improve enrollment.

Comment by ste_with_av_en Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 3:48 pm
Fact—EIU lost 23% of their student body from 2010-2014 and did little to right the ship.
Fact—Bruce Rauner took office in January 2015

Where was Quinn, MJM, Cullerton, et.al. when the massive enrollment drop was happening?

2500 students times a conservative tuition fee of $8000 = $20 million ANNUALLY. And that doesn’t include fees, housing $, spending on campus, etc.

Comment by Piece of Work Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 4:08 pm
Not the impression I got.

Comment by Winnin' Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 4:09 pm
Perhaps they can set up satellite campuses in converted old roadside Stuckey’s?

Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 4:10 pm
Fact…

No other governor since 1858 funded higher education at a level of zero but Bruce Rauner. That’s zero as in no funding Bruce Rauner allocated for Eastern Illinois University.

Eastern sent a letter during the no funding explaining they plan to still exist, as Rauner refuses to fund higher education.

When Eastern closes, the sitting governor Bruce Rauner will own the fact that a state university closed as he Rauner sat by and watched.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 4:14 pm
Plenty of money was available Willy if they would have ran the university correctly.

I realize this is a tough concept for you. If you really were an R, it would be easy to understand.

Keep up!

Comment by PoW Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 4:19 pm
===Plenty of money was available Willy…===

… and now Rauner gave them none.

===I realize this is a tough concept for you. If you really were an R, it would be easy to understand===

“R” meaning Raunerites, yeah, they don’t fund higher education, it’s not up for debate or discussion.

Republicans throughout 1858 until Raunerites funded higher education.

But you already knew that.

When Rauner closes Eastern, Rauner will be a governor that purposely closed a state university.

You find something at zero… You can’t say you want it to exist.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 4:24 pm
“When you know better, you do better.” Governor Rauner, now you know what is happening, do better.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 4:46 pm
Travel up the ladder with an EIU degree

Comment by SoILL Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 5:23 pm
@Piece of Work. Over the years EIU lowered their entrance requirements to get a higher and more diverse population. The campus was designed for 10,000 students, but was up over 11,500.

@MSIX I am neither clueless nor raceist. I am a member of this community. I am also a 4th generation EIU Alumn, and a former staff member. EIU is a great small school. That is one of its best assesets. It is also a diverse school. Once upon a time there were standards. Just graduating high school did not garentee you entrance. Relaxing these standards lead to various things that include shootings at parties, lower graduation rates, etc.

Did anyone stop to think that MAYBE this advertising was DONATED. The university needs to get its name out to get high quality standards. This idea may seem dumb, but if it’s free, it’s better then doing nothing. Want to find out how much it cost. FOIA it. Get more info before judging.

Comment by LibrarianRyan Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 5:52 pm
To the person who wrote about the wonderful food at eiu. Make me very proud of my mother and her co-workers who worked nonstop for 27 years to make sure all the kids got fed good nutritious meals. These women were eiu graduates in home economics the comments about substandard education at eiu comes from individuals who do not know the full story. Eiu four generations. The people teaching your kids are. Eiu graduates. Go eiu

Comment by Hhood Thursday, Nov 17, 16 @ 5:59 pm