Muleskinner

Issue date: 9/28/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Stephanie Flippin/Photo Editor Switch it out- A parking lot sign is one of the many examples of objects around campus that will need to be changed for the University's name change.

The UCM name change will affect areas such as the marching band and their formations, fight song, and the cheerleaders' cheers. In order to embrace this transformation, faculty and administrators are assessing the situations and making plans for the switch.

Dale Carder, associate vice president of university advancement, is the head of an implementation team that will explore three areas- financial aspects, historical significance and external matters that will result from the change.

Carder said the financial matters will be left to a subcommittee to look at costs for the new name. He also said they will have to approve the total costs, since the funds must be provided by UCM.

The state will not supply the money, and the amount spent is to be determined by the members of the committee.

Carder said the historical significance of CMSU's name is being considered very strongly. While this is free of cost, nostalgic ties and history may be lost. Carder also said the fight song will be modified, but he is still uncertain of what will be done exactly. Carder is consulting alumni and others for advice because he admits, it is their alma mater, and they should be respected.

External matters that will be changed are the school's Web site and domain. Campus email addresses and 800-numbers will be altered.

Michael Sekelsky, director of athletic bands, said a task force has been assembled to look at changes to the marches, drum cadences and homecoming.

The most obvious new arrangement will take place at halftime of the football games when U-C-M will be spelled out. Sekelsky expects the adjustment to be soon, but he could not specify a date.

"I think there's a lot of excitement," said Scott Lubaroff, director of bands.

A lot of people are excited about the new name. Lubaroff wants to make sure to include opinions from everyone.

"We don't want to overlook something that is very important to our alumni," Lubaroff said.

He said these are transitional times, and there were people with long tenures at CMSU who should be taken into account.
As for the new cheers and chants, the cheerleaders are waiting on the band director and the athletic department to decide how cheers should change.

"We work closely with the band and we are still trying to get a hold of the band director to see what changes they are making," said Sara Wilke, UCM cheerleader.

"As for the words we say, we still don't know what the athletic department wants us to say yet."

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