USC is embarking on its first-ever unified marketing campaign in an attempt to rebrand the school and improve its reputation. Via advertising, alumni outreach and other methods, the university has begun its mission to change the way our school is viewed by the nation. 
It's about time for such a campaign. For years, although our football team and international business program have had their fair share of the spotlight, the rest of USC has been shrouded by the infamy of our state as a whole. From the less-than-respectable behavior of our politicians to the negative connotations associated with the Deep South, most people don't exactly see USC as a proud pillar of collegiate greatness. But that's what USC is aiming for in this new campaign — to brand our university as the leader of our state and a bright and shining pioneer of higher education.
In a world where competition is fierce and reputation is everything, it's important we graduate holding a diploma from a school we are proud of, and we have plenty of reasons to be proud. USC is home to great programs in all academic fields. Opportunities are endless — from research to studying abroad — and countless students have gone on to do big things. However, there's always room for improvement, and though we're working toward a great image, we must continue to strive to actually be great. Marketing, as powerful as it can be, won't lower admission rates or improve education quality.
We fully stand by the university's efforts in this project. The success of this campaign will affect us all, and there's no doubt we'd all love to see Carolina rise to the top, in athletics and otherwise.