UL/Louisiana Branding

[basinbear]

All of the above are the flagship universities of their respective systems. They are the oldest, largest & original university in their respective systems & these factors are synonymous with other universities that refer to themselves as university of “state”. Also, none of the above have legal restrictions with the use of their name. Regardless of how UL wants to “brand” themselves, the use of “Louisiana” is a violation of the spirit of the law in question.

The UL administration takes a lot of heat for not promoting the name & allowing the national media to use UL-Lafayette or ULL. The administration knows they are walking a fine line using “Louisiana” & is reluctant promote said name. In addition, the administration fears ULM will change their name again or ask the state legislature to close all loopholes in the law, which is more likely.

This is a long shot, but UL should team up with LSU & LTU and attempt to convert most, if not all, of the other four year universities in the state into junior colleges. We are too small of a state to have this many four year universities. UL, LSU & LTU would all benefit as would higher education in the state. However, we know that politics would get into the way of progress & is unlikely to ever happen.

There is no law anywhere in the Country against a non flagship University using the state name as a acronym for Athletic teams. The Administration at LSU does not care that we use "Louisiana" as a Athletics brand. ULM and its President, who back stabs us every chance he gets, is the culprit.....in spite of the fact that they tried the same thing in the early 2000's.

[Lexhead]

I support the university in our city being referred to as Louisiana or UL. I am just pointing out facts which have nothing to do with my support of LSU. Unfortunately, on RP, if anyone suggests they support LSU it is automatically assumed they have ill will toward UL, which is not the case.

Violation of the “spirit of the law” is a legal term used in court when someone is accused of manipulating a law in question. While I don’t think legal action would ever be brought against UL for using “Louisiana”, the term may be used by ULM & other state universities when attempting to convince the state legislature to close any alleged loopholes in the law.

"You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you ..."

[basinbear]

I support the university in our city being referred to as Louisiana or UL. I am just pointing out facts which have nothing to do with my support of LSU. Unfortunately, on RP, if anyone suggests they support LSU it is automatically assumed they have ill will toward UL, which is not the case.

Violation of the “spirit of the law” is a legal term used in court when someone is accused of manipulating a law in question. While I don’t think legal action would ever be brought against UL for using “Louisiana”, the term may be used by ULM & other state universities when attempting to convince the state legislature to close any alleged loopholes in the law.

Those Universities have lost around 50% of their state funding over the last several years and this is what they want to fight over....smart

[CajunAmos]

All of the above are the flagship universities of their respective systems. They are the oldest, largest & original university in their respective systems & these factors are synonymous with other universities that refer to themselves as university of "state". Also, none of the above have legal restrictions with the use of their name. Regardless of how UL wants to "brand" themselves, the use of "Louisiana" is a violation of the spirit of the law in question.

The UL administration takes a lot of heat for not promoting the name & allowing the national media to use UL-Lafayette or ULL. The administration knows they are walking a fine line using "Louisiana" & is reluctant to promote said name. In addition, the administration fears ULM will change their name again or ask the state legislature to close all loopholes in the law, which is more likely.

This is a long shot, but UL should team up with LSU & LTU and attempt to convert most, if not all, of the other four year universities in the state into junior colleges. We are too small of a state to have this many four year universities. UL, LSU & LTU would all benefit as would higher education in the state. However, we know that politics would get into the way of progress & is unlikely to ever happen.

I think Texas actually has five flagship universities. They don't seem to feel the need to legislate academic achievement success or athletic naming for that matter. Unfortunately, I don't see that happening in Louisiana any time soon.

As to reducing four year universities, I totally agree.

[USL1970]

I would like to see more consistency within athletics across all sports on the athletic branding on their uniforms. If For example, if Louisiana is the most important brand designation, the Louisiana is the most prominently displayed. Sometimes Louisiana is the footnote with Ragin Cajuns in large letters.

As we get more and more athletic events on national TV, wouldn't it be better for branding if Louisiana was the most dominate lettering?

Shouldn't the football take the lead in setting the consistency standard by which the other sports follow, since it sort of drives the bus in athletics.

[HoustonCajun]

All of the above are the flagship universities of their respective systems. They are the oldest, largest & original university in their respective systems & these factors are synonymous with other universities that refer to themselves as university of "state". Also, none of the above have legal restrictions with the use of their name. Regardless of how UL wants to "brand" themselves, the use of "Louisiana" is a violation of the spirit of the law in question.

The UL administration takes a lot of heat for not promoting the name & allowing the national media to use UL-Lafayette or ULL. The administration knows they are walking a fine line using "Louisiana" & is reluctant to promote said name. In addition, the administration fears ULM will change their name again or ask the state legislature to close all loopholes in the law, which is more likely.

This is a long shot, but UL should team up with LSU & LTU and attempt to convert most, if not all, of the other four year universities in the state into junior colleges. We are too small of a state to have this many four year universities. UL, LSU & LTU would all benefit as would higher education in the state. However, we know that politics would get into the way of progress & is unlikely to ever happen.

I agree with your comments regarding consolidation of universities and making all schools other than LSU, UL, LA Tech and UNO either branch campuses of the 4 largest schools or only 4 year universities. Remove all the duplication of graduate degrees and any research. Focus both on the 4 main universities.

Now, regarding our name. Everybody is so concerned about the University of Louisiana name. Use of "Louisiana" only is legal and hasn't seemed to bother anyone, although most media refuse to recognize is that way, particularly ESPN. Use of UL is a major faux pas to most people and is against the law. An option is to do what the University of Oklahoma, University of Kansas, and the University of Colorado do using OU, KU and CU for their abbreviations. IF Louisiana is legal because we are not using "University of", then LU is also legal because the law only requires use of a city tag when "UL" is or "University of" are used. We are entrenched in UL, but something has got to give. We can't continue fighting a losing battle. Louisiana and LU would be completely legal. I'm still not sure, however, that could get ESPN to stop calling us Louisiana Lafayette. They televised us for 3 straight days with LOUISIANA on our uniforms, our filed, our scoreboard, and any releases by our SID, and still would call us that.

Lafayette is now the 3rd largest, wealthiest and fastest growing city in Louisiana. We should have a powerful delegation. If University of Louisiana will never be attained and use of UL will never be allowed, maybe we should do what was done in Ohio. Seems to be awfully similar to our situation in Louisiana with us and LSU. Ohio has both the big dog, THE Ohio State University, and Ohio University (not the University of Ohio) along with other state universities. I suspect Ohio State objected to their use of University of Ohio just as LSU and other state schools do with our use of University of Louisiana. Let's use our powerful delegation to go to the legislature and request our name be changed to Louisiana University. ULM will then be forced to change their name and can go back to NLU, except as North Louisiana University, which many of their alumni will love. Then, we are Louisiana and can use just an "L" along with LU as an abbreviation. Would there be political objections to Louisiana University? Who knows? It certainly wouldn't project us as the University of Louisiana and flagship of the University of Louisiana System, which I think is why most other schools fight us on this. We have to do something. It has been 14 years and we are still fighting this rediculous name battle with no end in sight. Our administration won't push the envelope on this and we are getting more and more entrenched as Louisiana Lafayette. Winning alone will NOT solve the problem. We MUST get more creative. Would you rather compete with Lamar for LU or Louisville for UL (I don't care if Louisville goes by UofL, they are still associated with UL)? That should be a nobrainer. I, for one, would be very happy with Louisiana University and LU. It just might be attainable and would give us the identity we grave.

[Hammer58]

You know, I agree that this was his most level-headed post. But he fully reveals his real motivations for kicking up all of this dust as well. In arguing about the spirit of the grossly unfair law he so heartily supports, our guest here shows that this isn't about law, it isn't about not wanting us to look like whiners. It isn't even about the use of the "legal" name of the university. This is all about our guest being butthurt because someone is impinging on the turf (real or perceived) of his beloved A&M. He's just an intellectually dishonest poser. Not worth your time. Let him go back to Refineryville, his shift at the Olive Garden is about to start.

How did that quote get attributed to me?!!!

[ULvictory]

If those in this thread have deluded themselves into believing that the "Lafayette" in the name doesn't exist (it's like the Twilight zone, honestly), why not go a little further and start to claim ULL is superior to LSU academically? Nothing wrong with taking the crazy full circle.

The name is LSU and A & M college - google it and it is what it is. It is U L @ Lafayette or as the sports gurus are calling the school - Louisiana Ragin Cajuns or "Louisiana" Quite simple sir. Referred to as that which
you earn! Cajuns are earning "Louisiana"! Like Tenn- Texas - Fla - Calif. and so on and so forth. Go - Geaux Cajuns!

[Turbine]

Violation of the "spirit of the law" is a legal term used in court when someone is accused of manipulating a law in question. While I don't think legal action would ever be brought against UL for using "Louisiana", the term may be used by ULM & other state universities when attempting to convince the state legislature to close any alleged loopholes in the law.

They would have to give their definition of "Louisiana" to begin the convincing. I promise you, their definition does not match the reality of a nickname.

Still I get it, just remember the quote, "if no law says you can, you can't."

Kind of like driving between the maximum and minimum speed limits. No law says you can.

Don't even think about the law breaking that happens while attempting to achieve minimum speed.

Please Mr. Please let the 2nd largest school in the State achieve minimum speed.

[Turbine]

The standard for name recognition is found in Title 17, Section 3215. If a name is in common use it is automatically accepted by the State.

It doesn't mean it was a law establishing common use, due to common use it is "accepted"

The floodgate that Louisiana haters are desperately try to block is common use of UL by individuals and media, both of which are under no legal restrictions.

[Ragin9221]

I agree LU, Louisiana University at Lafayette would be better than ULL. Lets look at it from a different point of view. There is nothing in the law that states that if we did change our name to Louisiana University at Lafayette. That we would have to abbreviate it a certain way, and we would not have to get a second school to change with us.

The only thing that would worry me is ULM being the only University of Louisiana, but us being Louisiana University it should not be a
problem. I don't think they would make ULM change their name.

Lets look at it a different way, how about we keep the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, athletically we just go by Louisiana or LU. It is technically the same. There is nothing in the law stating how we abbreviate our name or what we can call ourselves, except for the UL abbreviation

[Hammer58]

I agree LU, Louisiana University at Lafayette would be better than ULL. Lets look at it from a different point of view. There is nothing in the law that states that if we did change our name to Louisiana University at Lafayette. That we would have to abbreviate it a certain way, and we would not have to get a second school to change with us.

The only thing that would worry me is ULM being the only University of Louisiana, but us being Louisiana University it should not be a problem.

This horse gas been beaten to death.

There can be no further name change without the consent of the Legislature. The judge in the '84 case used the skewed logic that changing a name constituted the creation of a new university and only the legislature had the power to create a university. (Of course this ignored the history of the creation of ULMost.). The legislature later passed a new law giving themselves sole power over the names of universities.