The drum roll echoed throughout the University Union at 11:47 a.m. Tuesday and signaled the beginning of a new era at Sacramento State.

With the help of the Sac State marching band, community leaders and dozens of student athletes and coaches, the new logo for Sac State replaced the California seal during a gala unveiling ceremony Thursday afternoon in the University Ballroom.

A six-person design team from Osaki Design, Inc. spent about four months interviewing over 500 faculty, students and staff from the campus and researching the history of Sacramento and Sac State. Using the information collected, the team, led by CEO Kurt Osaki, spent two months creating and designing the official logo.

Two Ss emerging from a torch rising from a river will adorn letterheads, T-shirts and mugs as well as Sac State’s new Web site, which debuted shortly after the ceremony.

University President Alexander Gonzalez said the new logo represents leadership and community.

“I like the simplicity of the logo,” Osaki said.

At 12:15 pm on Thursday, the logo was unveiled not only at the event in the ballroom, but also on the campus Web site. A new motto for the college, “Leadership begins here,” joins the logo.

During the events leading up to the unveiling of the logo, Sacramento City Councilman Steve Cohen had presented Sac State President Alexander Gonzalez with a resolution proclaiming Sept. 1, “Sacramento State Day.”

After accepting the resolution and prior to unveiling the logo, Gonzalez said, “In this time where we are bombarded with information everyday-this logo will give Sacramento State a consistent look.

“It will symbolize our leaders and our hope for the future.”

Students and faculty members were happy with the new logo, most noted its simplicity.

Junior business major Loren Kaplan said, “It’s good because it gives a new air for Sacramento State University. It proves that we’re more than just a commuter school.”

Tom Carroll, program advisor of student activities, said, “The new logo gives us a fresh start. The old logo was getting old; when it was shrunk down, you couldn’t see all of the detail.”

One concern of students regarding the new logo was if this change was going to raise the tuition.

Junior nursing major Jill Hall said, “The money could’ve been spent something more important, but it is our school name.”

Laurie Hall, a news writer from Public Affairs, said that since the board of trusties produced the money for the logo, students’ tuition fees should not be affected.

Hall said all of the previous letterheads and business cards will be used up, then faculty and staff can start using new printed stationery.

Gonzalez said that Osaki Design was paid about $34,000 for the project.

Jamie Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]