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Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
The proposal to change the name of a major Missouri school reheats this year's session, something apparent in today's (Tuesday's) Senate education committee hearing. Josh Hinkle has more from the state Capitol.
That old familiar ring of opposition concerning the namechange of Southwest Missouri State is no stranger to this session.
Like his predecessor Ken Jacob, Columbia Senator Chuck Graham voiced his concern over the historical significance of the name Missouri State University.
SMS Board of Governors member Mike Dugan said SMS wants the name, in part, to remove a regional university feel.
But Graham stressed a disagreement between Dugan's statement and Governor Matt Blunt's.
"The governor said, with the namechange, that he intended to keep the institution a regional university. What you're telling me is that you don't want to be a regional university anymore. You want to be a statewide university."
Dugan says the new name would attract more students, but Graham promises hours of deliberation on the Senate floor before allowing such a change.
From the state Capitol, I'm Josh Hinkle.
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The name Missouri State University promises another session of heated debate in the Senate. Josh Hinkle reports on today's (Tuesday's) Senate Education Committee hearing.
It's a familiar battle in Missouri, one that Southwest Missouri State officials won't seem to give up, session after session.
But Columbia Senator Chuck Graham says the name Missouri State University historically belongs to the University of Missouri.
The MU flagship campus is part of his district.
"The problem that comes in for some of us, cause I keep hearing about prestige, is that we've got a case of what I call identity theft."
The committee will vote next week on the recurring amendment, before it goes to the floor of the Senate.
If that happens, Graham promises hours of debate about a namechange he said he feels SMS is bullying into the Senate.
From the state Capitol, I'm Josh Hinkle.