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Perhaps the name ?SU might work best

The Identity Committee started out with a bang and ended with both angry and relieved committee members fleeing the conference room last Friday.

Left were the same "maybes" that prevailed from the committee's from start.

Maybe the committee will find out whether it recommended to change or retain Troy State's name.

The committee voted by secret ballot, and the votes were sealed in an envelope and given to Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. Only Hawkins can release the vote, and he has no plans to release it.

But it is illegal to withhold a vote from a public meeting.

Is the vote of the committee so important that the university will violate the law to keep it from being known?

Even if keeping the vote secret wasn't illegal, the committee members deserve to know what they recommended. TSU students, alumni and community representatives also deserve to know.

Maybe someone will admit that this committee was just a "rubber stamp" figurehead to protect Hawkins from both powerful "key supporters" of a name change and opponents.

Key supporters are influential businessmen in Troy and members of the Board of Trustees - namely Dr. Doug Hawkins, Sen. Gerald Dial and John Harrison. Some of these men vote to renew Hawkins' contract; therefore, the committee vote and his recommendation to the board may be a key part of his future at TSU.

The secret ballot has given both Hawkins and the key supporters more time to straddle the fence before announcing a position on the issue. It has also given key supporters a chance to change their minds.

Maybe the "key supporters" of the name change will stop hiding behind the committee and state the real reason behind the proposed change.

The key supporters still haven't given a real reason for proposing a name change.

In fact, at least two "key supporters" sat on the Identity Committee and neither one was willing to explain why they wanted a name change. Publicly these supporters will only say a new name might be beneficial to TSU in the future.

But you can bet this isn't the real reason.

The real reason for a name change is athletics - particularly Division 1-A athletics.

If the chancellor continues to appoint committees dealing with volatile issues, he should be prepared to release the findings of the committees. The purpose of a committee is to have insightful and open discussions on issues affecting the university - not to shield people too scared to stand up for their ideas.

Otherwise, the value of committees will be diminished to "rubber stamp" figureheads - just like the Identity Committee.

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Editorial Cartoon

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Marketing is needed, not a name change

Donna Reynolds, Alumni Guest Columnist

As an active alum of Troy State University, I want to make my thoughts known concerning the possible name change of Troy State University.

I am totally against it.

In fact, I've been talking to a lot of alumni and haven't found one person in favor of the change. Troy State has worked long and hard to establish itself (name included) as a quality university throughout the world. I fail to see any good in changing the name now.

In fact, I believe the suggested names would only place "negative" connotations on Troy State.

I am a born Alabamian and Southerner and proud of it. But, I can tell you by placing "Southern" into our name, we automatically regionalize ourselves. And "Southern Alabama" is about as regional as you can get. Also, in many people's eyes, throughout this nation and the world, we would be seen as a backward little "Southern" college in Alabama.

I am disturbed only a few alumni were polled about the name change, especially concerning the importance of the matter. I believe all alums should be polled.

I think you will find the majority of us, as well as students, faculty, staff, community, state and federal officials and servicemen and women around the world will be against the change.

With the financial troubles facing universities and colleges in Alabama, the last thing TSU needs to think about is spending needed program and operation dollars on name changes and all the logistics that would go with it.

Instead, use the money to upgrade TSU's technology capabilities so every student, academic department, all faculty and staff and every department on every campus has e-mail and internet accessibility.

We are way behind most of the state's junior colleges in computer technology and access.

What happened to the "super computer" TSU was supposed to have up and running to make us "accessible to the world"? It's kinda hard to say we're an international university when we can't even communicate via computer technology to another TSU branch or other universities in the state, much less the world.

Also, let's fine tune and expand current programs and add others to the curriculum.

That means putting money into technology, equipment, programming and outstanding faculty, not more vice presidents and administrators.

That's the only area I agree with Governor James on about higher education, we have way too much money going to administrators and "fluff" on our university campuses instead of academics and other needed programs.

What Troy State really needs is a "top notch" marketing firm to market Troy State University nationally and internationally, i.e. "Troy State University - providing quality education to students throughout the world" or "Troy State University - a state university meeting the educational needs of people around the world."

Troy State is known internationally.

How can anyone say we aren't when we have 52 branches around the world? Use people and resources from all those areas to promote TSU and design advertising accordingly.

We are a diverse university system; we're just not marketing us to the best of our ability.

Use alums in the national media, generals, local, state and federal officials and don't forget the single mom who got a good job because she earned her degree by attending night classes at Troy State University, to promote us.

Use them all, and use them often.

Quit worrying about trying to be Auburn or Alabama and concentrate on being the best Troy State University we can be.

I can tell you from experience, TSU already outshines many AU and UA programs.

In athletics, unless we beat AU and UA and all the other "biggies" year after year, we will never get the respect or recognition we deserve. That's life. Don't dwell on it, move ahead.

In contrast, a name doesn't make a university, programs do.

Why would anyone want to attend Slippery Rock University? Surely , not for the name.

Finally, you don't need to fix something that's not broken.

Keep Troy State University as the name of my university.

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Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

The Tropolitan wants your comments. Letters to the editor must be typed, signed and include the writer's affiliation to the university. An adress and phone number must also be included. Letters should not exceed 200 words. The deadline to submit letters is noon Monday. Space limitations may pervent the publication of letters received during the week. The editor reserves the right to edit for content and/or space. Send all letters to:

Tropolitan Editor

Wallace Hall

Troy, Ala. 36082

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