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• Journalism Alumni Association Passes Resolution Denouncing a TSU Name Change
  

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the National Alumni Association Board of Directors passed a resolution on May 11, 1998, pledging support to the Troy State University Board of Trustees should it vote to change the University's name, an action that came as a great surprise to the Journalism Alumni Association Board of Directors, membership, other alumni and alumni chapters; and

WHEREAS, the Journalism Alumni Association believes Troy State University would be better served by a comprehensive marketing, public relations, alumni involvement and development campaign in support of the current name, even if it means appropriating additional money for increased staff and marketing/development activities; and

WHEREAS, there has been strong, almost unanimous opposition by City of Troy residents to a name change; by the Troy City Council's passage of a resolution opposing a name change; by the Alabama House of Representatives' passage of a resolution opposing a name change; by opposition from faculty and employees; and by the Student Government Association, with the backing of the student body, which represents a significant number of future alumni, in opposition to such a change, and

WHEREAS, many in state government, led by the Governor, who is the President of the TSU Board of Trustees, are calling for higher education reform and consolidation; and because a name change and the associated costs make a strong case for gross excess, unnecessary expense and poor stewardship, and opens TSU to the potential for unwanted attention by the State Legislature, the Governor's Office, the news media and others; and

WHEREAS, the Journalism Alumni Association Board of Directors wants it to be known that the aforementioned resolution approved by the National Alumni Association Board of Directors is not representative of the opinions and feelings of the JAA Board, the JAA membership, and journalism alumni, students and parents in regards to where the University should position itself in the future;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Journalism Alumni Association, by action of its Board, and with the consent of its membership, joins other alumni chapters, including but not limited to the Emerald Coast and the TSUD chapters, in opposition to a name change; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in order to maintain future support for the University's alumni and development efforts from the membership of the Journalism Alumni Association, the JAA Board of Directors calls for the Troy State University Board of Trustees to retain the current name of the University and System, and calls for a renewed commitment from the Board of Trustees to focus on the priorities associated with the Mission of the System and its individual campuses, and other tangible issues of importance.

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E-mail us your questions and concerns about this new change.

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• National Alumni Association Passes a Resolution Supporting a TSU Name Change

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS the Troy State University (TSU) athletic program is NCAA Division IA in all sports except football, and, 

WHEREAS the TSU athletic program has been highly successful at the Division IA level, and,

WHEREAS the TSU football program is the first  in IAA history to achieve playoff status its first four years of IAA playoff eligibility, and,

WHEREAS the football stadium is currently undergoing major improvement and will seat more than 17,000, and,

WHEREAS moving the football program to Division IA would greatly enhance the image of the University and the support of its students, alumni and fans, and,

WHEREAS it is the desire of the Board that Troy State University be the third major university in the State of Alabama, and,

WHEREAS the Board wants the University to have a name that will be more national in scope and that will project an image of size and substance thereby helping its graduates secure employment throughout the nation, and,

WHEREAS a study recently conducted clearly shows that of the names considered by the Identity Committee, the names Alabama Southern University  and  Southern  Alabama  University  will  project  a university of greater size and substance.

NOW BE IT RESOLVED that the National Alumni Association Board of Directors strongly recommends to the TSU Board of Trustees that it upgrade the TSU football program to NCAA Division IA, and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Alumni Association supports the TSU Board of Trustees should they choose to change the name of the University.

DONE this the 11th day of May, 1998.

CERTIFICATION I, ______________, duly appointed and Legal Counsel of; TSU National Alumni Association Board of Directors, hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of a resolution passed at: the meeting  of  the Board  of  Directors  of  TSU National  Alumni Association, on May 11, 1998, at which a quorum was present and voted. I further certify that none of said resolution has been altered, modified or rescinded. This the 11th day of May 1998.

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What do you think?
E-mail us your questions and concerns about this new change.

You can also write the TSU Board of Trustees.

Read what other Hall School of Journalism grads had to say.

• Hall School of Journalism Merges With
  School of Fine Arts

The Hall School of Journalism completed a merger this year with the School of Fine Arts to form the College of Communications and Fine Arts.

Long-time speech faculty member David Dye was chosen dean of the new college following a nation-wide search by the TSU administration. Dye appointed journalism faculty member Steve Padgett as director of the school of journalism.

Padgett, JAA board member, Tim Beasley, past JAA president, and Tony Harris, current JAA president, met with Dye Feb. 19, to discuss his vision for the School of Journalism now that it is one of several entities in this
newly-formed college.

The group explained the history of JAA, and were assured that the basic elements that have made Troy State University's journalism program strong will not be changed.

Dye told the group that he would like to see JAA increase its involvement in university affairs by using the organization to lobby for increased state funding for higher education, to increase and seek new donations from within JAA's ranks, and to develop new partnerships with corporations and trade organizations for the benefit of the School of Journalism.

Dye also said he intends, at some point during the upcoming year, to appoint an advisory committee to work with him and the College of Communications and Fine Arts faculty to advance the new college's programs. JAA will be represented on that committee.

One behalf of JAA, Beasley and Harris expressed the alumni association's willingness to work with him and the journalism faculty in any way that will benefit the journalism program. The group also said that JAA would object to efforts to change the philosophy of the school or to tap journalism alumni for undesignated funding of the new college. They did, however, pledge JAA's support for
college-wide efforts that sought to fund specific needs in School of Journalism.

This development gives alumni every reason to be concerned about the future of all areas of the journalism program at Troy State. A strong alumni network is needed now more than ever. If you're not a member of JAA, please consider joining.

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What do you think?
E-mail us your questions and concerns about this new change.