USC Takes Down MFA Students’ Tumblr

An unofficial blog created by the MFA students at USC’s Roski School of Art and Design and hosted on Tumblr was taken down last month following a request by an attorney representing the university.  Students created the blog in December 2012, before the controversy earlier this year which resulted in an entire class dropping out of the program. Information and events were posted, as well as the additional commentary of students who sought a platform separate from the university.  The blog also hosted a project called “Collective Dean,” a response to the departure of former Roski Dean Rochelle Steiner in the fall of 2012. As students clashed with Roski administration over the newly appointed dean, the blog provided a forum for open letters and comments related to the conflict. USC provided a statement to Hyperallergic which justified the takedown on the basis of infringement of the USC brand: “The USCMFA Tumblr page was a trademark infringement and created the impression it was an official account from USC Roski… The program name and graduate building address appeared clearly on the page at all times.” Students have recreated the blog at a new URL.

More via Hyperallergic.