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RTFC

Joined: 08/08/2003 Posts: 6670
Likes: 3512


Response to my letter to VT


Hello Mr XXXX,
Your letter to the president was shared with me as the point person for the Virginia Tech brand. We are currently looking into what and how we can work with the alums who created this petition to remove the appearance that this is an institutional message. They added the disclaimer (as you note, buried in the footnote) at our request.

Thank you for raising this and for the understanding that this is misleading, regardless of opinion on the matter.
Tracy

Tracy Vosburgh
Virginia Tech Senior Associate Vice President
Advancement | University Relations
540-231-5396

From:xxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2017 2:03 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Petition letter

President Sands,

There is currently an online letter/petition for people associated with Virginia Tech to “disavow” from Steve Bannon, a Virginia Tech alumnus and advisor to President Trump. I’m not making a case for, or against, the contents of this letter. However, the letter uses photos from Virginia Tech’s campus, the “We are Virginia Tech” slogan, the Ut Prosim motto, and has a very misleading opening that says:

We are Virginia Tech.
We are the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; and, as a community united by shared values, we are compelled to address our serious concerns with one of our fellow alumni.

While there is a disclaimer buried in a footnote more than a page down the document saying it is not associated with Virginia Tech, this opening, along with the very obvious picture of the Pylons makes it appear that this is an official Virginia Tech document and position.
As a publicly funded institution, I don’t believe any group should imply that they represent all of Virginia Tech, particularly if they are using content that appears official or may even be copyrighted or trademarked.
I fully support the group’s right to protest, petition, etc. and in a different format might sign it myself, but again I do not want ANY specific group claiming they represent my university as a whole. That could lead down the proverbial slippery slope of which organizations could use similar material.
I hope someone at the university can investigate this and ensure appropriate changes are made.
Here is link to the letter.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGU8H7q-VTSyf3UQ9a9j4WLqJ0RcDmW3E-00ql3K4RApwkxQ/viewform?c=0&w=1
Thanks for your assistance.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxx

[Post edited by RTFC at 01/30/2017 9:09PM]

(In response to this post by Virtual Hokie)

Posted: 01/30/2017 at 9:05PM



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Current Thread:
 
  
Thoughts on use of Pylons Photo? -- Virtual Hokie 01/29/2017 2:54PM
  Response to my letter to VT -- RTFC 01/30/2017 9:05PM
  No. Misleading and offensive use of VT name ** -- VaAkita 01/29/2017 9:04PM
  Offensive? ** -- CPRVHokie 01/29/2017 9:37PM
  Sure it can -- RTFC 01/30/2017 2:28PM
  LOL, a bit melodramatic today? -- Manbearpig 01/30/2017 12:37PM
  Not in all cases -- Manbearpig 01/30/2017 11:13PM
  After being vetted by each family of each name ** -- TomTurkey 01/29/2017 5:27PM
  Don't forget VT SGA President. ** -- PhotoHokieNC 01/29/2017 4:58PM
  Had his ass busted by President Hahn in 1970 ** -- TomTurkey 01/29/2017 5:58PM
  When he was 17 and still in HS? Wow, what a rebel he was! -- PhotoHokieNC 01/29/2017 6:37PM
  It was a very good year ** -- `lag 01/29/2017 7:17PM
  Read your post wrongly -- TomTurkey 01/29/2017 6:47PM
  Very interesting. thanks for posting. ** -- radhokie1 01/30/2017 08:23AM
  Also ... -- PhotoHokieNC 01/30/2017 07:13AM
  Under what legal grounds could it be prohibited? -- No1Hokie 01/29/2017 4:06PM
  That would be impossible to do ** -- Hokie Bird 94 01/30/2017 10:03AM
  Ony if they used the phrase "Hokie" ** -- TomTurkey 01/29/2017 5:56PM
  No problem ** -- Stork 01/29/2017 3:52PM
  Not enough support for that I guess ** -- Brown Water 01/29/2017 3:39PM
  World was already laughing at the last 8 years ** -- hokie77th 01/29/2017 7:29PM
  Pulling out your alt facts? -- Manbearpig 01/29/2017 10:19PM
  Going by what I heard personally while overseas. ** -- hokie77th 01/30/2017 05:07AM
  UWS...we all know you are a disgruntled liberal ** -- HOKIERIT 01/29/2017 4:27PM
  Weird, since I havent voted for one since Clinton -- Manbearpig 01/29/2017 4:45PM
  Delete** -- hokie77th 01/29/2017 7:30PM
  Delete** -- hokie77th 01/29/2017 7:26PM
  Whew. ** -- PhotoHokieNC 01/29/2017 5:02PM
  I live outside D.C. What's your point? ** -- CPRVHokie 01/29/2017 4:05PM
  ...Kenny Bania ? ** -- chumley 01/29/2017 3:41PM
  "Puke. That's a funny word." ** -- Stork 01/29/2017 3:54PM
  That gold, Jerry. Gold! ** -- CPRVHokie 01/29/2017 4:01PM
  UWS. -- Hokie360 01/29/2017 3:26PM
  I agree... -- Virtual Hokie 01/29/2017 4:01PM
  Not even the Duckpond ** -- TomTurkey 01/29/2017 5:29PM
  Re: Thoughts on use of Pylons Photo? -- PhotoHokieNC 01/29/2017 3:24PM

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