Tree Doesn’t Cut It for Stanford

The banana slug and the duck are taken, but Stanford students, known for their creative minds, should come up with a suitable alternative in no time.

The esteemed institution of learning is looking for a new logo because the stately tree adopted in 1975 apparently didn’t cut it as a marketing tool.

“You can’t make a ferocious-looking football shirt with a tree,” said Maria Gladfelter, who directs the licensing of Stanford’s logos to producers of jewelry, pillows and dozens of other products. “We’re looking for an action figure, maybe an animal, something whimsical.”

The school is offering cash awards of up to $500 to students, faculty and staff members with the best ideas and sketches for a new design. The deadline is July 15.