At UW-La Crosse, ‘L’ marks a new spot where people can now gather to pose for pictures. UW-L unveiled a 10-foot high metal version of the school’s “L” logo, containing the profile of an eagle, in a ceremony Tuesday. UW-L Chancellor James Beeby predicts the sculpture, located outside the Re creational Eagle Center, will become a favorite spot for photos. “I see so many students getting photographs, alums coming back to get photographs of the Hoeschler Tower, and other places,” Beeby said. “This is a perfect location,” he added, pointing out that it’s close to where the second Prairie Springs science center is being built. ABOVE: UW-L Chancellor James Beeby stands next to the UWL Eagle sculpture unveiled on June 23, 2026 (PHOTO: Brad Williams); TOP PHOTO: The big ‘L’ sculpture is unveiled at UW-La Crosse during a ceremony on June 23, 2026 (PHOTO: Brad Williams).UW-L graduate Joe Laux, Class of 1989, suggested the idea and donated it to the school. “This was the only idea I had considered,” Laux explained. “I like the logo, ’cause it represents obviously the university as well as the athletic programs, and I’m a supporter of both of those programs.” That logo was adopted in the 1980s, after the university dropped the former “Indians” nickname and changed it to “Eagles.” Joe Laux speaks at the unveiling June 23, 2026 of the UW-L “L,” a piece he proposed having on campus (PHOTO: Brad Williams). Laux had seen similar symbols on other college campuses and enlisted local artist Luke Achterberg for the project. Achterberg spent six months building piece, which weighs more than a ton. Achterberg said the original plan Laux had was to make the “L” about twice as big — around 20 feet tall. “I thought that was ambitious,” Achterberg said, adding it would have been difficult, “because it would have had to have been made in sections” and then pieced together on campus. ...read more read less