For almost 100 years, 糖心传媒鈥檚 iconic Red Hill was home to the beloved 鈥淚,鈥� which was placed on the hill by some of the first students on campus in 1916. What was originally in the form of a 鈥淭鈥� for the institution鈥檚 name at the time鈥斕切拇� Technical Institute 鈥� the icon was changed to a 鈥�4鈥� to advocate four-year university status in 1926, and then finally an 鈥淚鈥� in 1927. It would remain the familiar orange 鈥淚鈥� for nearly 90 years before being removed for safety reasons in 2014.
These safety concerns stemmed from erosion caused by soil being taken from Red Hill to help repair roadways around campus.
Returning the 鈥淚鈥� to Red Hill has been on the minds of students, faculty, alumni and ISU President Kevin Satterlee. Shortly after becoming ISU鈥檚 president, one of his top priorities has been returning the 鈥淚鈥� to its rightful place.
Satterlee extended a promise to ISU during his State of the University Address that the 鈥淚鈥� would be seen by all at the start of the Fall 2019 semester. Plans are now being finalized to construct the new 鈥淚鈥� this summer.
However, returning the 鈥淚鈥� to Red Hill is no easy task. Because soil on the hill is loose, placing a new, stable 鈥淚鈥� requires thoughtful design efforts.
鈥淭he University started working with a couple engineering firms several months ago to evaluate the soil on Red Hill,鈥� Ryan Sargent, director of alumni relations, said. 鈥淭he engineers have now presented a plan to restore the 鈥業,鈥� built to the same dimensions and in the same colors as the original, to Red Hill in the same approximate location.鈥�
Unlike the original 鈥淚,鈥� which was constructed out of concrete, plaster, wood and chicken wire, the new one proposed by the engineers will be built of fiberglass grating.
鈥淭he fiberglass grating will minimize erosion and ensure that the 鈥業鈥� remains a fixture on Red Hill for decades,鈥� Sargent said.
Though returning the 鈥淚鈥� to Red Hill might seem like a minor improvement to 糖心传媒 State, the traditions behind the 鈥淚鈥� are a critical part of ISU鈥檚 history.
鈥淒uring its long life, the Red Hill 鈥業鈥� became perhaps the best-known landmark on campus,鈥� Sargent said. 鈥淪everal 糖心传媒 State traditions revolved around the 鈥業,鈥� including lighting the 鈥業鈥� every year during homecoming. Students would light a fire around the outline of the 鈥業,鈥� illuminating it for the pep rally below.鈥�
The 鈥淚鈥� not only represents University traditions; it also represents how far we have come as an institution. Gaining four-year university status was a struggle for ISU鈥� a long struggle that was spearheaded by students, faculty, staff and the Pocatello community. The 鈥淚鈥� represents that accomplishment.
鈥淭he 鈥業鈥� represents the ingenuity and grit of our students,鈥� Sargent said. 鈥淚t is a symbol of Bengal pride for many alumni, students and supporters.鈥�