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Thread: 2004 - Advertiser Official Editorial on across the board UL name usage

  1. Default 2004 - Advertiser Official Editorial on across the board UL name usage

    From the desk of the executive editor of The Daily Advertiser.

    Nothing may be as sacred as one's name. Just ask new parents who have struggled for months to find just the right one for their newborn. Some people who don't even have children, know already what they'll name their first born.

    Ask the child who has taken the name of his adopted family how he feels about his name. Ask the bride who has taken the name of her husband; or the woman who keeps her maiden name despite the union.

    We are emotionally, if not inextricably, linked to our name.

    Businesses are the same way. The name they carry are trademarked or copyrighted.

    Names are big business. You can buy books on names and read volumes on the history of names.

    So, is it any surprise that the students, faculty, alumni and local supporters of our own university care so much about what it is called?

    The University of Louisiana at Lafayette was named such in 1999.

    That was for the second time.

    The university was named the University of Louisiana for less than a month in 1984, but the state Supreme Court overturned the name change when legislators and others — largely at the behest of LSU and its supporters — moved quickly to block the school's attempt to move from regional status.

    The final name change had to wait for 15 years, when attaching "at Lafayette" was a compromise school officials had to make to get the bill through the Legislature.

    That new legislation said that at least two schools had to change their names, and that they could do so as long as the new names included the cities in which the universities were based.

    McNeese State University (Lake Charles), Louisiana Tech (Ruston), Northwestern State (Natchitoches) and Southeastern (Hammond) elected to retain their regional designations. After some months, the former Northeast Louisiana University decided to become UL Monroe, becoming the other school needed to let UL Lafayette also change its name.

    When Ray Authement began promoting the change 20 years or more ago, he had academics, not athletics, in mind. He recounted how a team of consultants reviewing then-USL's computer science program told him, "your program is excellent, but your address is wrong. Your program is going to be limited by the name of your institution."

    He said also that although their applications were worthy, university researchers were turned down for major grants because of the regional designation in the name.

    Changing the name to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette was the first step in remedying that situation. That is the official name of the school and there is nothing we can do about that.

    But we can recognize that, as great as this community is, the "at Lafayette" still is a diminutive of a sort. We're going to get rid of it in our news pages.

    The Daily Advertiser is, without question, the local newspaper of record. Let me go on the record, then, and say that I think the University of Louisiana ought to be referred to as just that — the University of Louisiana. We know where it is. You know where it is. We do not need the "official" name when we refer to it in print.

    I could not find any logical reason to call it "ULL" Sorry. I know not everyone will agree, but I make decisions every day that someone does not agree with. That's the challenge of putting your daily work in print each day. The local newspaper ought to be responsive and receptive to the ideas of its community. We've listened. We're acting.

    The staff has been put on notice that in the news pages of The Daily Advertiser, the university will be referred to as the University of Louisiana. Period. End of story.

    The rest of the story (link Broken)

    Juli Metzger
    jmetzger@smgpo.gannett.com

    (Juli Metzger is the executive editor of The Daily Advertiser.)


  2. This is so COOL With the Daily Advertisers new commitment to UL, are you more likely to subscribe?

    Advertisers new commitment to use UL and University of Louisiana references in its news stories.

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  3. #3

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    Way to go Daily Advertiser!!!


  4. #4
    Zeebart21's Avatar Zeebart21 is offline Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Greatest Fan Ever

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    It is the correct move.....

    somewhat late, but still a good move..


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    Maybe people do listen to the voice of the consumer.


  6. #6

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    Once the facts are presented, its hard to not be offended by the KGB-like behavior of the legislature regarding this matter. I responded by email to Julie as follows:

    Bravo Juli, bravo. The legislature can do what it wants to try to handcuff the progress of the university in favor of a flagship concept (an attitude that stunts the growth of the entire higher education system, including the university they attempt to protect), but they can't handcuff the fans, alumni, businesses, or your newspaper. They don't have the jurisdiction.

    Neal '95


  7. #7

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    I was ecstatic to see this! I voted 'no' on the subscription, but that is because I live in Mandeville. This move is a great one for both the university and the DA. Thanks to Juli and the Advertiser for finally coming around! Good job!


  8. #8

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    Here is a letter to the editor I wrote. The answer to your poll question is at the bottom

    While I read your commentary regarding the change in your editorial policy regarding the University of Louisiana with some degree of satisfaction, I just had to wonder.. What took you so long? As you stated in your article, The Advertiser is the "Voice of the Community". Similarly The University of Louisiana is often called "The Pride of Acadiana". Do you see any parellel there? No two insitutions so reflect the culture of this area; no two institutions are so critical and vital to the success of this area; and no two institutions have the history in the community so in common as do the Advertiser and The University of Louisiana. Yes I know there is a contingent of individuals in this city for whom a National Championship banner somehow equates to might... And that feeling of might leads to a feeling of superiority. For 5 years now this "Voice of the Community", the Daily Advertiser, has seemingly allowed this miguided sense of values to direct it's editorial positions. As your article stated, there is no reason to insist upon the use of the "official name". Where that to be the case should not the official name for ALL schools be used? Please compare the name of those National Championship banners to the names on the diplomas of the few on that team that graduate... I think you will find the names are not the same. Please compare the name on YOUR headlines the day after they won that National Championship to the name on their official letterheads... I think you will find the names are not the same... The point here is that there is no over riding precedent nor any ruling autority for you to have crumbled under the pressure out of Baton Rouge.. I thought you were better than that.. I thought the Newpaper had more integrity than that.. For 5 years I was wrong.. But better late than never right?? Please renew my subscription. I've missed you..


  9. #9

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    Has journalistic integrity returned?????????????


  10. #10

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    Geaux Advertiser


  11. #11

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    Its a start, albiet a late one; but it should help raise the awareness in the Acadiana area. Hopefully it becomes more natural over time. I know it took me some time to get used to it.


  12. #12

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    Now to get all print in at least Acadiana to follow the advertisers lead and TV/Radia broadcasters at least in the Acadiana area to do the same!!

    Thanks Advertiser,
    Long time subscriber,
    DaddyCajun!


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