The Sign Advisory Committee approved four of five sign applications from Island Lumber on Oct. 21 and held a single "hardware" sign for revision to allow further review of campus signage and to avoid setting a precedent for product-oriented large lettering on building facades.

Val (Island Lumber representative) told the committee some of the letters dated to 1965 and said the letters across the campus are 14 inches in height. "The first island lumber letter sign went up in 1965, and I think that would be grandfathered," Val said. Committee members praised the signs’ period look: "I love these signs, and I feel like it pushes it instead of so many things that feel like they're trying to corporate brand everything," said Ben Norman.

Committee concerns focused on the single "hardware" elevation, which some members said reads as a product callout rather than the business name and could set an unwanted precedent; others noted that the sign facing the public way may be less visible after the state roadwork that blocks a former entrance. Paul Wolf proposed holding the hardware sign until new entrance work and campus plans are finalized; the committee also asked Island Lumber to present a master sign plan when changes to the driveway and entrance are complete.

Motion and vote: A motion to approve four of five signs (holding the hardware sign for revisions) carried unanimously. Recorded votes: Kevin Koester — yes; Mark Catone — yes; Paul Wolf — yes; Ben Norman — yes; Chris Young — yes. Outcome: four signs approved; the hardware sign held for redesign and future campus master sign plan submission.

Why this matters: Island Lumber is a long-standing island business; the committee balanced historic character against the need to avoid setting broad precedents for building-mounted product signage. Committee members asked the business to return with campus-level documentation once state roadwork and driveway changes are finalized.

Speakers included Val (Island Lumber representative), Ben Norman, Paul Wolf, Kevin Koester, Mark Catone and Chris Young.