I Love Driving by the Stadium

**isuno1fan** · 08-09-2008, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by rworkman83

Yes they did. Last summer I think....

Why the hell would they change the name? That straight irritates me....and I'm not sure why.

**ornryactor** · 08-10-2008, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by isuno1fan

Why the hell would they change the name? That straight irritates me....and I'm not sure why.

They changed it from Elwood Drive to University Boulevard on the argument that visitors to the university didn't know where to get off the highway in order to find campus (despite numerous signs pointing out the exits) and that it was entirely necessary to have a road named such that it beats people over the head with information... It happened September 2007. I believe they will be re-honoring Professor Elwood by naming the new Design addition after him, or some BS like that.

**isuno1fan** · 08-10-2008, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by ornryactor

They changed it from Elwood Drive to University Boulevard on the argument that visitors to the university didn't know where to get off the highway in order to find campus (despite numerous signs pointing out the exits) and that it was entirely necessary to have a road named such that it beats people over the head with information... It happened September 2007. I believe they will be re-honoring Professor Elwood by naming the new Design addition after him, or some BS like that.

Maybe in protest I won't use that exit anymore....

**ISUKyro** · 08-10-2008, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by isuno1fan

Maybe in protest I won't use that exit anymore....

Last time I was in town I blew past it, going hey wait isn't that the exit I want. I knew something was amiss when I ended up using the South Dakota exit.

**ripvdub** · 08-10-2008, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by isuno1fan

Why the hell would they change the name? That straight irritates me....and I'm not sure why.

Originally Posted by isuno1fan

Maybe in protest I won't use that exit anymore....

IS your last name Elwood?

**isuno1fan** · 08-10-2008, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by ripvdub

IS your last name Elwood?

Nope, but I hate change for the sake of change.

**Aclone** · 08-10-2008, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by AirWalke

A far cry from my first impressions of ISU when I came for my first college visit in the summer of '03...

If you want "a far cry", you should try the changes from when i first visited in December of '82. Among a great many other things, there used to be an IHOP in Campustown...

**illinoiscyclone** · 08-10-2008, 10:05 AM

WHAT? that sucks. i drove all the way to ankeny a few weeks ago after church for some ihop.

**Me State** · 08-10-2008, 01:57 PM

They should put the signs for sale on the Cyclones.com auction page.

**ISUCyclones** · 08-10-2008, 02:44 PM

Went and got some pic's for you out of staters.

**scottie33** · 08-10-2008, 02:51 PM

Looks like they are getting the seat backs on there for who ever ordered them!

**hobbsfan27** · 08-10-2008, 03:07 PM

Cant wait looks great.

**Stumpy** · 08-10-2008, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by isuno1fan

Nope, but I hate change for the sake of change.

But it's not just for the sake of change, and I cannot understand why people take the move so personally and offensively.

It's another part of the "gateway" project, to make it very clear to visitors off of that exit that they are coming up on Iowa State University. Is it repetitive and redundant? You bet! But that's what I want to see in a college town: complete spirit and fervor for the University that everything revolves around it (right down to the street names and brick entryways).

No, it doesn't make sense for people in Ames or those that are already connected for the university. But it's not for us. It's for people that are new to the campus, so it's easier to find, or so that it imposes the Iowa State spirit on visitors. Imagine a recruit coming to Ames for the first time, turning onto University and seeing the brick gateway before passing by Reiman Gardens and seeing Jack Trice in the distance. Impressive, impressive pathos.

**Aclone** · 08-10-2008, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by Stumpy

But it's not just for the sake of change, and I cannot understand why people take the move so personally and offensively.

It's another part of the "gateway" project, to make it very clear to visitors off of that exit that they are coming up on Iowa State University. Is it repetitive and redundant? You bet! But that's what I want to see in a college town: complete spirit and fervor for the University that everything revolves around it (right down to the street names and brick entryways).

Nothing wrong with the brick gateways. But renaming Elwood Drive just for convenience not only goes against tradition, we lose something unique. I'm sure that just about every college town has a "University Avenue/Drive/etc". It's commonplace. And look at Des Moines' "University Avenue", you have to think about it to realize that it's related to Drake, because it just goes on and on and on, in both directions. Frankly, "University" is simply trite and passe, let alone simplistic. And there already is a "State" Avenue, has been for decades, just nobody wants it tied into Highway 30.

And as far as the visitors--don't try to tell me that just as many people don't come in South Dakota, West Lincoln Way, or even those from the north, along 13th Street. University? We really didn't need to become a clone of every other college town.

Frankly, Cyclone Alley might have been a better choice...

**Cloned4Life** · 08-10-2008, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by Stumpy

But it's not just for the sake of change, and I cannot understand why people take the move so personally and offensively.

It's another part of the "gateway" project, to make it very clear to visitors off of that exit that they are coming up on Iowa State University. Is it repetitive and redundant? You bet! But that's what I want to see in a college town: complete spirit and fervor for the University that everything revolves around it (right down to the street names and brick entryways).

No, it doesn't make sense for people in Ames or those that are already connected for the university. But it's not for us. It's for people that are new to the campus, so it's easier to find, or so that it imposes the Iowa State spirit on visitors. Imagine a recruit coming to Ames for the first time, turning onto University and seeing the brick gateway before passing by Reiman Gardens and seeing Jack Trice in the distance. Impressive, impressive pathos.

Great post, couldn't agree more. I don't care one bit if "everyone else has a university ave" - I want visitors to be reminded of Iowa State University as much as possible.