UL remains up in arms about name

[NewsCopy]

All you need to know about the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is that its semi-official fight song is "Respect." That's why the school founded in 1900 as Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute, and then was Southwestern Louisiana Institute from 1921 to '60 and then the University of Southwestern Louisiana from 1960 to '99, keeps changing its name in an effort to shed its image as a "directional school." Nothing wrong with that. Trouble is, athletically, respect is proving hard to come by. And we're not talking about on the field. It's all about what they want to be known as. The official athletic name is Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns, but nobody uses that. They'd prefer to be called Louisiana, or UL for short. Three years ago, the Lafayette Advertiser in a front-page editorial declared it would do just that, and imprinting the brand has been a local success story since then. But outside the Lafayette area, it has been an uphill climb. None of the state's other major newspapers use Louisiana or UL. At The Times-Picayune, it's Louisiana - Lafayette or "ULL". Outside the media, there are those, particularly LSU types, who resent the fact that somebody else wants to at least sound like it's the state's flagship university. So they still call the school USL or "ULL" -- or worse. And some folks in Lafayette don't like that a bit. "We've got people who would rather go 0-12 as UL than 12-0 as "ULL"," said one member of the school's athletic advisory board. "This is a fight that's going to last for 100 years." It has been going on for 60. Back in the 1930s, LSU appropriated the veterinary school from the then SLI, giving the animosity an unofficial starting point. In the 1940s, McNeese Junior College in Lake Charles was elevated to four-year status, some claim, to inhibit SLI's growth. And in 1984, when USL attempted to change its name to the University of Louisiana for the first time, according to some, "a bunch of LSU legislators" got it quashed. The rest of the story Time Picayune Ted Lewis tlewis@timespicayune.com (504) 232-5071.

[DestinCajun]

Ho hum, notice the "note" on which the story ends - the typical and totally predictable slant.

[Crowley Cajun]

Is it true that Susan Gonzales received death threats?:confused: That's the first that I've heard that.

[Cajun Power]

I didn't know they stole the vet school as well.

They won't let a brother have anything.

[RaginFan2]

I didn't know they stole the vet school as well.

They won't let a brother have anything.

Sure they will. They "let" ULM keep their Pharmacy School. Other than that, no, I guess you're right.

[CajunCharlie]

Sure they will. They "let" ULM keep their Pharmacy School. Other than that, no, I guess you're right.

I am still wondering how they allowed that!!!:confused:

[CajunNation]

I am still wondering how they allowed that!!!:confused:

'Cause without the pharmacy school, there is very little reason to keep that school open.

[RonMexico]

'Cause without the pharmacy school, there is very little reason to keep that school open.

My younger brother had a sticker on his ride when he was in school that said "LSU delenda est"...

you about 32-33?

L'Ronte'

[CajunCharlie]

'Cause without the pharmacy school, there is very little reason to keep that school open.

True!! But I cannot imagine the "flagship" being that benevolent.

[bigguill]

I decided to write a letter to the "Times-how ever you say that second word", I'm just sick of the ignorance of people in Louisiana. Here is what I wrote.

"I'm a graduate of UL-Lafayette and I read your article entitled "UL-Lafayette remains up in arms about name." I have to say that I'm very disappointed, the opening line stated "All you need to know about the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is that its semi-official fight song is "Respect." Funny, how that's all people need to know, I guess that's all we're good for. I seem to remember a little storm named Katrina about a year ago. I also remember our Cajundome being turned into a shelter for thousands of people from New Orleans. I remember the million dollars of damaged done to said Cajundome in those few months. I also remember UL students taking time out to volunteer at the Cajundome helping people from New Orleans. I remember friends having to graduate in a rodeo arena, because our usual venue was being repaired, because it housed people from New Orleans. I remember one of our dorms being openned to emergency personnel helping people from New Orleans. But, it seems that you people are just ungrateful. Because apparently we're good for nothing, not even to tie LSU's shoes. That viewpoint is expected, this is Louisiana, where everyone has their hands on money under the table and their lips on LSU's backside. Appreciation is defined as thankful recognition, maybe you would do good to learn some of that. Its just sad how quick you people forget who helped you out in your time of need. Instead of bashing our school, maybe you should try to show what we did for you people. Nobody likes an ungrateful neighbor. Next time a hurricane comes, maybe UL will realize how you really feel about us. Just evacuate to Baton Rouge where LSU's rear-end will be waiting there for you to kiss. Maybe that will be best for us all."

[evangelinetiger]

I decided to write a letter to the "Times-how ever you say that second word", I'm just sick of the ignorance of people in Louisiana. Here is what I wrote.

"I'm a graduate of University of Louisiana and I read your article entitled "University of Louisiana remains up in arms about name." I have to say that I'm very disappointed, the opening line stated "All you need to know about the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is that its semi-official fight song is "Respect." Funny, how that's all people need to know, I guess that's all we're good for. I seem to remember a little storm named Katrina about a year ago. I also remember our Cajundome being turned into a shelter for thousands of people from New Orleans. I remember the million dollars of damaged done to said Cajundome in those few months. I also remember UL students taking time out to volunteer at the Cajundome helping people from New Orleans. I remember friends having to graduate in a rodeo arena, because our usual venue was being repaired, because it housed people from New Orleans. I remember one of our dorms being openned to emergency personnel helping people from New Orleans. But, it seems that you people are just ungrateful. Because apparently we're good for nothing, not even to tie LSU's shoes. That viewpoint is expected, this is Louisiana, where everyone has their hands on money under the table and their lips on LSU's backside. Appreciation is defined as thankful recognition, maybe you would do good to learn some of that. Its just sad how quick you people forget who helped you out in your time of need. Instead of bashing our school, maybe you should try to show what we did for you people. Nobody likes an ungrateful neighbor. Next time a hurricane comes, maybe UL will realize how you really feel about us. Just evacuate to Baton Rouge where LSU's rear-end will be waiting there for you to kiss. Maybe that will be best for us all."

While the attitude displayed in the article is typical of many NO people, there was nothing in it that was factually incorrect. there is a great amount of self-conc. among the UL faithful. UL as an institution acts as if it is always being slighted. All this garbage about money under the table is just urban legend. According to every outside source in the country, LSU is the most underfunded flagship school in the nation. I am not saying that UL is not underfunded either, just that LSU is not overfunded. stop hating LSU and start working to wake the legislature up and get it to fund all schools at the correct level.

[bigguill]

I'm just sick of reading papers from other cities in Louisiana bashing UL. The same thing happened in Lake Charles' Friday paper. Written by an idiot who was holed-up in the Advertiser during Rita. My thoughts is just, if you want to use our resources, but then bad mouth us, then screw you. They bad mouth us until they need us, then they become our best friends. Its aggravating. I have a hard time believing LSU is undefunded. Also, I would like to see the numbers from other states, such as funding for the "flagship" and other schools in the state. Louisiana probably has one of the biggest disparity. I was watching Louisville vs Kentucky in football on ESPN. I was like, that must be nice to have two nationally known schools in one state. Then I realized that when I visited Kentucky last year their sign read: "Welcome to Kentucky, Where Education Matters". That sign has always stuck with me. Kentucky is not a rich state, but if you have your priorities straight, you can accomplish what you need to. Until Louisiana changes its attitude and begin to care about Higher Education, nothing will change. We will continue to be number 49.