AD

[ABC]

I've always liked a return to the Univ of Wichita

[shox1989]

My dad always calls his alma mater the University of Wichita. He never changed.

[DoubleJayAlum]

*In terms of growing in stature - and perhaps enrollment - the first thing that I would do if I were the king of WSU would be to change the university's name to University of Wichita.

+1. University of Wichita works too. The key is dropping the "state" part.

[Kung Wu]

Well, heck, if too many modifiers is uncool let's drop State AND Wichita. Let's just trump EVERYONE in the USA and go with:

University

[shox1989]

THE U!

[ShockerFever]

+1. University of Wichita works too. The key is dropping the "state" part.

The Board of Regents full of KU and KSU trash won't allow it. It will further enhance WSU's status and pull them closer to KU and KSU's "stature". That can't happen. Since they are a state school, they have to be described as such.

[DoubleJayAlum]

The Board of Regents full of KU and KSU trash won't allow it. It will further enhance WSU's status and pull them closer to KU and KSU's "stature". That can't happen. Since they are a state school, they have to be described as such.

Well that sucks.

Another option would be to brand yourself for athletics only. We are seeing such a thing right here in Omaha with the University of Nebraska-Omaha ("UNO"). After years of referring to itself as UNO, UNO has made a marketing decision to refer to itself in athletic matters (i.e., scrolling score updates, lists of conference standings, nlists of names of teams in a conference, etc.) as "Omaha". The feeling was that UNO and/or Univ. of Nebraska-Omaha, was too cumbersome/confusing. According to something in the local paper, a lot of the other schools in the Summit have apparently decided to do the same thing, even though they will not change their name formally. I suppose you could do that, but I readily admit that I have no idea what sort of approvals/processes are necessary to bring that about. Could the regents really stop WSu from calling itself "Wichita" for athletics?

[ABC]

I am not aware of any specific request or proposal from WSU to change their name since their being part of the Regents system. When UW was brought into the Regents system in the mid 1960s, there was a lot of discussion about it and a requirement then (in 1965) of adding "State" to the name. Other options discussed were the Univ of Southern Kansas and Univ of Kansas - Wichita. I kid you not.

There is a book out there somewhere that does a great job of describing what happened.

[Dave Stalwart]

Well, heck, if too many modifiers is uncool let's drop State AND Wichita. Let's just trump EVERYONE in the USA and go with:

University

Yes! And not only would U transcend all other schools in the U.S., but there would also be mass confusion in every other country that calls college 'university'

[Ricardo del Rio]

I've always liked a return to the Univ of Wichita

I vaguely recall that one of the conditions of acceptance into the state system was a name change to Wichita State University.

Very vaguely.

If so, it will be hard to unring that bell unless Gov. Brownbeck got involved.

[ShockerFever]

Well that sucks.

Another option would be to brand yourself for athletics only. We are seeing such a thing right here in Omaha with the University of Nebraska-Omaha ("UNO"). After years of referring to itself as UNO, UNO has made a marketing decision to refer to itself in athletic matters (i.e., scrolling score updates, lists of conference standings, nlists of names of teams in a conference, etc.) as "Omaha". The feeling was that UNO and/or Univ. of Nebraska-Omaha, was too cumbersome/confusing. According to something in the local paper, a lot of the other schools in the Summit have apparently decided to do the same thing, even though they will not change their name formally. I suppose you could do that, but I readily admit that I have no idea what sort of approvals/processes are necessary to bring that about. Could the regents really stop WSu from calling itself "Wichita" for athletics?

That would be a good idea, but firstly, I don't know much this issue is even on the athletic department's mind. Probably near zero. This particular AD has issues dealing with the "future". But I'm sure branding itself "Wichita" for athletics would somehow piss off the gods, so I doubt it would be possible. As for the UNO move, I still see them referred as such during score updates and abbreviations. I dunno if the Omaha thing has ventured very far out of the city itself. But good for them for trying.

[1972Shocker]

Is the Wichita State name really that bad? Other than a few opposing fans holding signs saying Wichita is not a State. Wow, such geniuses. Simply blinding in their brilliance. Obviously Wichita State is not even close to being alone in that category.

Personally, I think Wichita State is a pretty decent and well-recognized brand in college athletics, especially basketball, baseball and perhaps now Volleyball, but that also carries over to all sports and to the University itself. In certain academic areas Wichita State is also a solid brand.

If the Wichita State brand totally sucked I could see it. But I don't see that as being the case, but maybe I'm all wet in that assessment.

Edit: Perhaps I should throw the WSU bowling teams in the mix as well.

[ShauXTyme]

I'd hate to be San Diego State University, or even Boise State University. The get very little respect, too.

[Ta town]

Odd this came up, I think UMKC just put off a name change to either Kansas City University or University of Kansas City due to a survey from Alumni. I guess they like it being known they are associated with the university of Missouri system and feared people would no longer associate them as part of the UM system. I know a few years ago UM-Rolla changed their name to Missouri S&T or something like that.

I know sometimes a caller refers to WSU as "doubleu u" calling into Lutz and he seems to get mad and corrects them saying it's been Wichita State since the sixties, get it right. That makes me believe some actually prefer the state being part of the name.

If I had to choose I would prefer Wichita University over Wichita State University but glad it's not directional.

[Ta town]

Is the Wichita State name really that bad? Other than a few opposing fans holding signs saying Wichita is not a State. Wow, such geniuses. Simply blinding in their brilliance. Obviously Wichita State is not even close to being alone in that category.

It's pretty simple for normal people.

Wichita is not a state BUT Wichita State is a State University in Wichita.