Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse University reversed course on a policy that would have prohibited its club sports teams from using the school’s most famous logos and trademarks on social media, clothing and marketing materials.

The policy was initially put in place last fall but caused little issue until the past two weeks, when the school attempted to enforce the policy on the social media accounts for its club men’s hockey program and club baseball program.

Both clubs were told to change their avatars on social media and remove a “Block S” logo to comply with the new rules.

In addition to the “Block S,” teams were also going to be prohibited from using Otto the Orange, or the words Syracuse, Orange or ‘Cuse in the school’s familiar block-orange font. The club teams were going to be permitted to use those logos on its uniforms.

In protest of the policy change, the club hockey team changed its social media avatar on Twitter to a canister of orange juice, replacing the school’s “Block S” logo. Connor Burke, the president of the club baseball team, declared that he would not change the baseball team’s logo until the school provided an explanation for its new policy, something he never received.

Following protestations from those clubs, and inquiries from local media organizations including syracuse.com | The Post-Standard, the school said that it was adjusting the new policy again.

“Like all our recognized student organizations, Syracuse University’s sport clubs are an important part of the student experience,” Syracuse Senior Associate Vice President for Communications Sarah Scalese said in a statement. “Each year, more than 1,500 students participate in nearly 50 sport clubs. Based on feedback we have received from student groups in recent days, we have made the decision to allow our sport clubs to use our marks beyond uniforms to include areas such as club-managed websites and social media accounts. We will be working with our sport club leaders in the coming days to define appropriate use. We know our students have a lot of pride in being Orange and we will do everything we can to ensure they can represent our university proudly during competition.”

In an e-mail to its club teams, Syracuse Senior Vice President for the Student Experience Allen Groves said the school would allow its club teams to use logos beyond their uniforms and that it would eventually hold a meeting to “discuss and define appropriate use of university marks.”

Burke noted that Syracuse’s statements didn’t include any mention of using the logos on apparel or merchandise, but he was happy with the result at the moment.

“I consider it a win,” Burke said. “I was in a public relations class and we were talking about it. We talked about how powerful Twitter is to get this changed in 24 hours. I thought we were fighting a losing battle, a small club team against a big institution. I’m thankful they came around.”

Mackenzie Murphy, the president of the school’s club men’s hockey team, said the team has been traditionally allowed to use those logos as long as they were approved by the school. The team would generally include a notation near the logo that made it obvious they were a club sport.

Murphy said that presidents of the school’s club sports were informed of the change during meetings at the start of the year but the impact didn’t sink in because the meeting covered a wide number of topics and there was no enforcement last year. He said the school failed to stress any needed changes to leaders of the organizations.

“It was a rule that was in effect that had not been enforced yet,” Murphy said. “We were introduced to it at the first club sports meeting. They kind of glazed over it. So it didn’t seem like it was an issue.”

Until earlier this month at least.

Two weeks ago the club hockey team announced on Instagram that the school had determined that fans, including the parents of athletes, wouldn’t be allowed to attend the team’s games because of coronavirus rules.

Some of the comments under the announcement focused on a perceived double-standard, given the school had just hosted 30,000 fans in the Carrier Dome for the football team’s home opener against Rutgers.

The coronavirus policy for club hockey games was ultimately changed but Murphy believes the comment section brought attention to the account, prompting someone at the school to notice the team was out of compliance with the trademark policy.

He received a note from Angie Petrie, Syracuse University’s club sports director, who said she was passing along a message from the school’s trademark and licensing department that the Twitter account was out of compliance. She sent a similar message to the baseball team, as well as a reminder to all the school’s club sports about the new policy.

Both Burke and Murphy said repeatedly that they don’t blame Petrie for the decision, pointing out she was just passing along a mandate from elsewhere.

Both students expressed pride in the idea that they played on quality club teams and said they consider themselves good representatives of the school. Murphy noted that the hockey program was ranked among the 25 best club programs in the country when it was last able to compete.

Murphy played four years of high school and did a post-graduate year in an effort to get a college scholarship. When he didn’t receive the opportunities he wanted, Syracuse’s club hockey program became a big part of his college decision. Social media is a big part of the team’s recruiting effort.

Burke said he takes pride in being the only baseball team on Syracuse’s campus and indicated the team is a favorite to win its league in the spring.

“We are part of the university, we’re proud to represent Syracuse University and we do so in a good manner,” Burke said.