Changes are on the way for how Creighton University recruits new students after campaign fails with current students and alumni.The pushback was so strong that the university’s marketing director decided Thursday to pull ads from TV slots.Video: Creighton University pulls recruitment ads“I immediately was not a big fan,” said Creighton University alumnus Matt Novotny.In a series of spots and videos, actors playing a range of students explained why they picked the Jesuit school. One in particular spared backlash.“There was a golfer, and he asked, ‘Why Creighton?’ And he said, ‘Because someday I’ll be your boss,’” said Creighton student Michael Holdsworth.“That line just seemed very prideful, very arrogant and very out of the place with the Creighton that I’ve come to know,” said Creighton student Jonathan Santiago.The university pulled the ads. On Thursday, it released a statement addressing the bad student reviews.“Their passion for Creighton and the reaction by alumni and students to the ads has led us to the decision to not run the TV spots,” the statement read.The Creighton Student Union passed legislation asking for a student marketing oversight committee, which university staff said they will establish. Creighton said in the statement that the new advisory committee will include current students and alumni, calling them “champions” for the university.Novotny said he hopes future campaigns capture the spirit of what makes Creighton special.“It’s so much more than being the boss or achieving career success,” he said.

Changes are on the way for how Creighton University recruits new students after campaign fails with current students and alumni.

The pushback was so strong that the university’s marketing director decided Thursday to pull ads from TV slots.


Video: Creighton University pulls recruitment ads

“I immediately was not a big fan,” said Creighton University alumnus Matt Novotny.

In a series of spots and videos, actors playing a range of students explained why they picked the Jesuit school. One in particular spared backlash.

“There was a golfer, and he asked, ‘Why Creighton?’ And he said, ‘Because someday I’ll be your boss,’” said Creighton student Michael Holdsworth.

“That line just seemed very prideful, very arrogant and very out of the place with the Creighton that I’ve come to know,” said Creighton student Jonathan Santiago.

The university pulled the ads. On Thursday, it released a statement addressing the bad student reviews.

“Their passion for Creighton and the reaction by alumni and students to the ads has led us to the decision to not run the TV spots,” the statement read.

The Creighton Student Union passed legislation asking for a student marketing oversight committee, which university staff said they will establish. Creighton said in the statement that the new advisory committee will include current students and alumni, calling them “champions” for the university.

Novotny said he hopes future campaigns capture the spirit of what makes Creighton special.

“It’s so much more than being the boss or achieving career success,” he said.