Daily World from Opelousas, Louisiana • Page 229

DAILY WORLD SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1999 5 SENIOR WORLD From Sill to University of Louisiana at Lafayette comes after a 20-year struggle to cast off a double-directional, regional name that they said hindered the university's ability to be recognized for what it has become a significant Doctoral II university that has earned national recognition in many areas, such as computer science and biological and environmental sciences. "It's difficult to convey the tremendous positive effect the new name will have on the university and its future," said Dr. Ray P. Authement, president of what is now the The University of Louisiana at Lafayette. "The Board of Supervisors couldn't have given a better gift for the university 100th This is the fourth name the school has had since it was established in 1900 as Southwestern Lafayette Industrial Institute.

The name was changed to Southwestern Lafayette Institutein 1921, when SLII became a four-year college. It was renamed The University of Southwestern Louisiana when it achieved university status in 1960. For a few weeks in 1984, USL became the University of Louisiana when the Board of Supervisors for State Colleges and Universities voted to allow USL to become The University of Louisiana. But after legal challenges, the university was quickly stripped of its new name and forced to revert to The University of Southwestern Louisiana. "The university has earned a name change because of its achievements," Authement said.

"It is prepared for a new century as The University of Louisiana at Lafayette." University of Louisiana at Lafayette athletic teams will keep their unique and popular "Ragin' Cajuns" nickname. Proponents of the name change have argued for decades that USL's "double-directional, regional" name did not reflect its size or stature. Most schools in the United States with designations such as "southwestern" or "northeastern" in their names are two-year community colleges with average enrollments of 2,100 stu- degrees awarded by the university and increase donor's pride in their affiliation with the university. "This name change has tremendous value for current and future students," said Ferris Wheeler, SGA President. "The University of Louisiana at Lafayette name will greatly enhance the perceived value of attending this university and of degrees granted to students.

The new name will result in many long-term benefits for students, such as continued growth of the university and its offerings." Steve Oats, president of the USL Alumni Association, said, "Alumni throughout the nation are celebrating today as this university's long-held dream comes true. The image of their university has just been rightfully enhanced. I'd like to commend the university's thousands of graduates for supporting the name change and patiently awaiting this day." The name change is the second momentous step for The University of Southwestern Louisiana this year. It has already begun to implement selective admissions, which strengthens entrance requirements. In the past, any high school graduate was eligible to attend USL.

Now, students who enroll must have achieved specific grade point averages and and performance levels on standardized testing, such as the SAT or ACT. dents. The average enrollment for a handful of four-year colleges and universities with double-directional names is about 5,400. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, in contrast, has about 17,000 students. The University of i.

Louisiana at Monroe has 10,500. "Dr. Lawson Swearingen, president of the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and its administration, faculty, staff, students and alumni are to be commended for taking this bold step. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has had the benefit of two decades of preparation," Authement said. He also thanked state lawmakers, members of the Board of Supervisors for State Colleges and Universities, and the Board of Regents for the opportunity to change USL's name.

"This represents a spirit of cooperation that is vital if Louisiana higher education institutions are to get the national respect they deserve," he said. According to Authement, the new name will improve The University of Louisiana at Lafayette's ability to: recruit top-notch faculty and students; compete for the nation's top scientists and most prestigious grants; and attract more Division I athletic teams to compete with the Ragin' Cajuns. He said it will also increase the perceived value of academic LAFAYETTE The University of Louisiana at Lafayette. That's the new name of the state's second largest university, which has been known as The University of Southwestern Louisiana since 1960. At the same time, Northeast Louisiana University will become The University of Louisiana at Monroe.

The Board of Supervisors for State Colleges and Universities gave its blessing to the name changes. The Board of Regents also had approved the new name. The Louisiana Legislature had paved the way for the name change in 1995, when it approved Acts 45 and 634, Those measures granted permission to members of The University of Louisiana System to change their names to The University of Louisiana, at their geographic location, provided that at least two universities requested name changes at the same time. For name change proponents, the designation as The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a victory that if .1 I 1 I Peace D.B.A. tri- co Hi NURSING Located on Hwy.

71, P.O. Box 112, Palmetto, LA "One of the newest and most modern facilities" "Your Inspection and Visits Invited Anytime" LARGE ROOMS WITH HALF BATH 'ALL RACES WELCOME-PRIVATE 24 HOUR PROFESSIONAL CARE PATIENTS WELCOME in unify CENTER INDIVIDUAL HEAT AIR CONDITIONING 5 COLOR TELEVISIONS PHYSICIAN ON CALL DUTY DELICIOUS MEALS IN HOUSE AMBULANCE SERVICE PLANNED DIET RECREATION PROGRAMS 4 VISITING LOUNGES BEAUTY AND BARBER SHOP CHURCH SERVICE fc, Photo by Christy Krantz AARP held it's first meeting of the year at Indian Hills Country Club Sept. 2. Ann Walsh of Action Seminar in Baton Rouge was guest speaker. AARP meeting Dennis R.

Driscoll, Administrator She spoke to AARP members about street crime (318) 623-4227.