http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20131...ck_check=1

Quote:The name game between the University of Louisiana at Monroe and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette was originally intended to benefit both schools.

But now, it appears one of the schools seeks to establish itself as “the University of Louisiana” by dropping any reference to Lafayette in apparent violation of the state law that established the University of Louisiana system.
In August 1999, the former Northeast Louisiana University and the previously named University of Southwestern Louisiana proposed name changes, something one school could not do without the other.
A year before, the Legislature passed a law that established guidelines and policies concerning name changes at state universities. Under the policy, universities in the University of Louisiana System could adopt the University of Louisiana in its name as long as no less than two institutions made a request. The caveat: The universities had to attach their municipalities to the name to avoid the appearance that no one school was a flagship within the system.
“The use of the University of Louisiana abbreviation ‘UL’ and/or the phrase ‘U of L’ are prohibited by the university or any of its affiliated organizations (alumni associations, development foundations, bookstores, etc.),” the law states. For academic, public relations, athletic, as well as other purposes not specified, the use of the University of Louisiana abbreviation must always include the abbreviation for the municipal location of the institution.

Interesting.

Interesting debate.

It would be like if Berkely and LA both became "University of California at" schools right at the same time and immediately started fighting over who got to be called "Cal" or "California" or "UC" because nobody had it first.

Clearly ULL sees the benefit of laying claim to the "Louisiana" brand and is willing to fight ULM for it...while it seems ULM is taking the more passive stance of 'unnt uhhh! the rules say you can't!" ...which will probably end up costing them big time when they should be doing the exact same thing and calling themselves the Louisiana Warhawks.

You've just unknowingly opened Pandora's Box.

This is probably the number one issue on the Sun Belt board.

BTW, laying claim to Louisiana is different than laying claim to the University of Louisiana. Although, UL Lafayette has been the University of Louisiana before.

This is really just LSU trying to keep the other Louisiana universities in their place.

(10-23-2013 01:55 PM)bullet Wrote:  This is really just LSU trying to keep the other Louisiana universities in their place.

And all of the "other Louisiana universities" will do the work of stomping out ULL's "Louisiana" marketing, so that LSU doesn't even have to look like the bad guy.

(10-23-2013 01:55 PM)bullet Wrote:  This is really just LSU trying to keep the other Louisiana universities in their place.

Yup. That's why they got the legislature to act on it years ago.

It's also the other schools in the UL system scrounging around and trying to put one down in order to prevent anybody from claiming they are 2nd place to LSU.

In spite of what the article says...The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is not trying to drop the "at Lafayette" from its official name. We are only branding ourselves as Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns the same way that Nevada-Reno has branded itself the Nevada Wolf Pack......that's it.....there will be no flagship of this system...ever...politics will not allow it...

(10-23-2013 02:01 PM)swampbear Wrote:  In spite of what the article says...The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is not trying to drop the "at Lafayette" from its official name. We are only branding ourselves as Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns the same way that Nevada-Reno has branded itself the Nevada Wolf Pack......that's it.....there will be no flagship of this system...ever...politics will not allow it...

The dispute is over whether the state law allows ULL to pursue the Louisiana branding, correct?

Nevada doesn't have any such state law, and there are only two four-year universities in the UN system, and the one in Las Vegas doesn't want to be labeled "Nevada" because they have so much invested in the "UNLV" brand.

(10-23-2013 02:12 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(10-23-2013 02:01 PM)swampbear Wrote:  In spite of what the article says...The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is not trying to drop the "at Lafayette" from its official name. We are only branding ourselves as Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns the same way that Nevada-Reno has branded itself the Nevada Wolf Pack......that's it.....there will be no flagship of this system...ever...politics will not allow it...

The dispute is over whether the state law allows ULL to pursue the Louisiana branding, correct?

Nevada doesn't have any such state law, and there are only two four-year universities in the UN system, and the one in Las Vegas doesn't want to be labeled "Nevada" because they have so much invested in the "UNLV" brand.

Not really, that's where the problem is. UL is off the table completely but Louisiana is not by statute. The thing is the other schools are saying that its essentially the same thing and are upset.

(10-23-2013 02:01 PM)swampbear Wrote:  In spite of what the article says...The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is not trying to drop the "at Lafayette" from its official name. We are only branding ourselves as Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns the same way that Nevada-Reno has branded itself the Nevada Wolf Pack......that's it.....there will be no flagship of this system...ever...politics will not allow it...

Huge difference - Nevada IS the Land Grant University, and by far the oldest. UNLV started as an extension campus of Nevada.

UL-Lafayette responds...www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/ull_

(10-23-2013 02:55 PM)swampbear Wrote:  UL-Lafayette responds...www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/ull_

Here is the correct link:

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2...cart_river


The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is not attempting to drop "Lafayette" from its name, school officials said Wednesday, adding media reports criticizing a long-used nickname on the athletics side were a total surprise.

Aaron Martin, UL-Lafayette Director of Communications and Marketing told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune that "Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns" had been the "official nickname" of the school's teams since before it changed its name from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1999.

He said the nickname is used only for athletics and not on the academic side and does not signal a plan to change the name of the university as a whole.

Louisiana? Does Red Beaulieu still coach down there? Things haven't been the same since they lost to the Muddogs.

(10-23-2013 03:00 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Louisiana? Does Red Beaulieu still coach down there? Things haven't been the same since they lost to the Muddogs.

Cincinnati? Y'all play football?

(10-23-2013 02:59 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(10-23-2013 02:55 PM)swampbear Wrote:  UL-Lafayette responds...www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/ull_

Here is the correct link:

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2...cart_river


The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is not attempting to drop "Lafayette" from its name, school officials said Wednesday, adding media reports criticizing a long-used nickname on the athletics side were a total surprise.

Aaron Martin, UL-Lafayette Director of Communications and Marketing told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune that "Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns" had been the "official nickname" of the school's teams since before it changed its name from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1999.

He said the nickname is used only for athletics and not on the academic side and does not signal a plan to change the name of the university as a whole.

So, basically, it's like the UNC Charlotte, who just go by Charlotte 49ers for athletics, only they drop the city instead of the state.

(10-23-2013 02:59 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(10-23-2013 02:55 PM)swampbear Wrote:  UL-Lafayette responds...www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/ull_

Here is the correct link:

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2...cart_river


The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is not attempting to drop "Lafayette" from its name, school officials said Wednesday, adding media reports criticizing a long-used nickname on the athletics side were a total surprise.

Aaron Martin, UL-Lafayette Director of Communications and Marketing told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune that "Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns" had been the "official nickname" of the school's teams since before it changed its name from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1999.

He said the nickname is used only for athletics and not on the academic side and does not signal a plan to change the name of the university as a whole.

Thanks

(10-23-2013 03:32 PM)Chappy Wrote:  

(10-23-2013 02:59 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(10-23-2013 02:55 PM)swampbear Wrote:  UL-Lafayette responds...www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/10/ull_

Here is the correct link:

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2...cart_river


The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is not attempting to drop "Lafayette" from its name, school officials said Wednesday, adding media reports criticizing a long-used nickname on the athletics side were a total surprise.

Aaron Martin, UL-Lafayette Director of Communications and Marketing told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune that "Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns" had been the "official nickname" of the school's teams since before it changed its name from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1999.

He said the nickname is used only for athletics and not on the academic side and does not signal a plan to change the name of the university as a whole.

So, basically, it's like the UNC Charlotte, who just go by Charlotte 49ers for athletics, only they drop the city instead of the state.

Exactly....

It feels to me like UL-Lafayette is following the actual letter of the law, but others are concerned about the spirit. Being called simply Louisiana for sports does put you a step above.

No one really remembers that Wisconsin is the University of Wisconsin at Madison or that Nebraska is the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (although was originally simply Nebraska University). Having the state name alone for sports is a huge deal for them and that sounds like the intent of the law in Louisiana even if it wasn't worded that way.

A Louisiana State Court problem!