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Six name changes are part of the history of the university that has called Lafayette home since 1900.
University of Southwestern Louisiana, its name until 1999, was deemed too regional. Now, some students feel that the University of Louisiana at Lafayette doesn't set the school apart as a major university in the state.
So next month, when students vote on new student government leaders, they'll be asked what they think their university should be known as now - University of Louisiana at Lafayette or the University of Louisiana.
"We wanted to pose the question to the student body - 'Do they think the name of our university - University of Louisiana at Lafayette - says who we are and where we are now as an institution of higher education?' " said Trumaine Thomas, president of the Student Government Association.
If enough students want to see the change, student government will write a resolution asking the university's president, Ray Authement, to take the necessary steps to instigate an official change, Thomas said.
"We want to bring him numbers," Thomas said. "We have 17,000-plus students. We don't feel that (UL Lafayette) represents who we are now. We have grown in our institution and our population has also grown. We have achieved national recognition."
But there are some students who feel that the name University of Louisiana at Lafayette suits the school just fine.
<center><p><a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060203/NEWS01/602030315/1002">The rest of the story</a>
Marsha Sills
msills@theadvertiser.com
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"I think the name is appropriate," said Caryn Winters, a communications grad student. "Look at UT at Austin or UT at Dallas. I don't think it's an uncommon thing to have the 'at' designation. I think it's distinguishable. UT at Austin is a fantastic school. Just because the end of its name is 'at Austin,' doesn't underestimate the quality of the school."
Through the years, the university's name changes have reflected its change in status as an institution from the vocational driven - Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute when it first opened its doors in 1900, to its new moniker when it achieved university status - the University of Southwestern Louisiana.
In 1984, the university became University of Louisiana, but it was brief. Students who graduated that spring received two diplomas - one bearing the new name and one with USL. The state reversed the name change.
Fifteen years later, a change was negotiated under the condition of a geographical tagline and that another university also must change its name.
In 1999, USL became University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Northeast Louisiana University became University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Authement did not return a call for comment.
Education major Bill Ballard, 33, looked at the name change as a practical issue and questioned if the "at Lafayette" would ever really be dropped even if the name was changed.
"If you tell someone you go to the University of Louisiana, they'd have to ask which one? Monroe? No, you'd have to say at Lafayette anyway," Ballard said.
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