To say that we are almost halfway through the decade of the 2020s is truly astonishing. Barring 2020, which seems like it took three years off my life, the past two years have flown by. While I’ve only been at USI for just over a year now, I’ve had a keen eye on the university and its potential in academics and athletics. It has innovated and continues to innovate, as all universities should aspire to do. The poster-child event of USI’s athletic program, being inducted into Division I sports in 2022, was an immense shift in USI’s athletic trajectory. However, some other changes are equally deserving of attention.
One of the first massive changes at USI was one it had no hand in, but it definitely felt the impact. The National Collegiate Athletics Association officially passed the addition of Name Image and Likeness policy in June of 2021. This was sparked by the Supreme Court ruling in favor of student-athletes in NCAA v. Alston, which occurred that same month. This ruling allowed NCAA Athletes to reap the financial benefits of their talents and fame, as opposed to the universities and the NCAA governing system reaping all the profits. Previously, athletes couldn’t make a dime off their names, which goes against what this country was built on: opportunity and risk. This change has allowed USI athletes such as Vannessa Shafford, women’s basketball senior guard, and Jack Mielke, men’s basketball graduate forward, to establish their brands off the success and strides that they have made on the court.
According to usiscreamingeagles.com, USI Athletics announced a partnership with Icon Source in the winter of 2023. This software marketplace company allows universities and athletes to create and manage their brands through merchandising and marketing. This was a crucial change, as many student-athletes need to gain experience in the business world and sign contracts. This also gives them safety in terms of business deals. Throughout the past and even present, professional athletes have been embezzled and robbed by shady accountants and financial advisers, which I could see as a future problem with NIL. Luckily, USI is ahead of the curve on this potential issue; credit to them.
The most recent crucial change in USI’s athletic program is perhaps the most controversial: the renaming of Screaming Eagles Arena to Liberty Arena, which happened Oct. 31. This change followed a $10 million donation to the program by Liberty Federal Credit Union, a chain of banking institutions throughout the Midwest. Some could say this is a form of USI “selling out to the suits and corporate world.” In reality, this happens with most universities, so this is just a step of growth for the program.
The name title change of Liberty Arena has a distinct connection to the university and its program. We are the Screaming Eagles, symbolizing strength, courage and freedom — all synonymous with liberty. This change will benefit everyone involved, especially the student-athletes, who could see a rise in direct funding from the university due to this donation, and it could inspire other donors to invest in this potentially fruitful institution.