Students should consider GC&SU’s future when deciding name change
Editor:
I have talked to many students around the campus, and the prevailing opinion on the name change is strong opposition. Because “Georgia College & State University” has always been the name of this institution for current students, we have an understandable affection for that name and are not inclined to change. A majority of students feel that the change will lower the prestige of the school from a university to a college. In addition, they see the enormous costs of changing the name on the signs, apparel and other aspects of the campus as unnecessary because of the current budget crunch. These opinions are legitimate from a current student’s perspective, but we can’t forget that most of us will be gone within the next five years. A large portion of the current faculty reluctantly experienced the 1996 name change that added “& State University,” and they will be teaching here much longer than we will be here. We should value their opinions above our short term desires.
For example, Kathy Edmonson, who coordinates events such as Fallfest, Springfest and Orientation, frequently receives phone calls from parents inquiring about Georgia State University or even Georgia Southern University’s new student programs. I also can’t count the number of times I have told people that I attend Georgia College & State University and they respond, “Georgia State?”
Prentice Hall Publishing also made a special edition of the book used for the education majors’ First Year Academic Seminar with “Georgia State College and University” on the cover. If we truly want to be distinct among the universities in the state of Georgia, we need to have a name that will not be misrepresented or easily confused with other schools.
The cost of changing the name will actually be relatively low for the school. The six- to 12-month process will allow existing letterhead, apparel, etc. to be used up before the new materials are needed. In addition, private funds will be donated to help cover the costs of the change. The long-term benefits of the change far outweigh the short-term costs.
Some students also feel that taking university out of the name will decrease the prestige associated with this school. I can understand the concern especially of international students where a college is basically like a high school or technical school. On official documents like diplomas and transcripts, the school still will be called “Georgia College: Georgia’s Public Liberal Arts University.” Even without this disclaimer, I still feel that this school will not lose any prestige. In U.S. News and World Report’s 2005 Top Liberal Arts Colleges, forty-four out of the top fifty have only college in their name. If the most prestigious colleges in our discipline do not have university in their name, then why do we need it for added distinction? Although the name may change, our accreditation will not.
Sam Rauschenberg
Sophomore
Political Science
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Feb 18 2005. Filed under Opinion.
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