The University of Mary Marauders are the athletic teams representing the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, competing in NCAA Division II as members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The school colors are blue, orange and white. [1]
Design and History
The University of Mary introduced its current family of athletic logos on August 22, 2018, at a campus rally. The new primary mark replaced the former athletic brand that had been in use since 1990. The 2018 redesign removed the color black and the sharp lines of the previous left-facing pirate, replacing it with a right-facing Marauder wearing a navy blue jacket and captain’s hat with a flowing orange bandana. Lighter shades and tints of the same colors were added to give the Marauder a three-dimensional look. A white customized U-M-A-R-Y wordmark, engraved inside a block of navy blue and outlined in orange with “Marauders” text embossed underneath, is superimposed over the Marauder. [2]
The logo was created by Sean Thorenson, a graphic design artist from Bismarck with more than 27 years of experience as a logo maker and illustrator. Thorenson worked in collaboration with the University of Mary’s own graphic artists. [2]
The 2018 unveiling also introduced a secondary letterman’s mark, a Marauder-less logo featuring a customized M-A-R-Y wordmark superimposed over an enlarged orange U outlined in white and navy blue. Both marks were included in a professional style guide illustrating correct usage for vendors and media. [2]
Meaning and Symbolism
Thorenson drew inspiration from “The Monk and the Marauder,” a bronze sculpture displayed in the university’s Crow’s Nest Campus Restaurant. The sculpture depicts a monk holding unlocked shackles and a marauder holding a chalice of wine, sharing a meal together, portraying the Christian themes of captivity and redemption. [2]
Thorenson explained that the sculpture showed the Marauder dressed down like a simple sailor, and he developed the idea that the encounter with the monk had changed the direction of the Marauder’s life. The new logo retained the captain’s hat and eye patch to maintain a connection to the old mark. Thorenson described the new Marauder as “confident, strong and certain, chin up with his gaze focused on the horizon,” standing on the bridge of his ship, representing a leader with purpose and new vision, attributes he felt the university aims to instill in its students. [2]
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