Cal U. students react to new name
Paul Paterra
California University students Hailey Sortore, left, and Micaela Ricco enjoy breakfast on a bench Friday morning on campus. Their main problem with the name change is that their diploma will not bear the California University name. They said they chose the college for all that is Cal U.
Paul Paterra
Freshman Cameron Walters of Brownsville likes the name change to Pennsylvania Western University-California.
Paul Paterra
This group prepared for a Friday of classes with breakfast at the Natali Student Center. They are, clockwise, from left, Luca Sciulli, Miranda Yauger, Alivia Yauger and John Barnes.
There appears to be mixed emotions at California University of Pennsylvania regarding the upcoming name change, at least among some of the students.
Effective July 1, California University of Pennsylvania will be known as Pennsylvania Western University-California.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 better than some of the ideas that we were thinking (were going to be chosen),无毛视频� said junior Hailey Sortore of the Poconos. 无毛视频淚 don无毛视频檛 hate it, but I came to Cal U. for Cal U., for the name of Cal U. Now my diploma won无毛视频檛 say Cal U. That无毛视频檚 my only thing against it. I don无毛视频檛 mind it; it无毛视频檚 just different.
The new name was unanimously approved Thursday by the board of governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). It stems from the merger of California University with Edinboro and Clarion universities. The consolidation of the three campuses was approved this summer as a means to keep all three campuses open and fully operational while facing rising costs and declining enrollments.聽
Sortore is a cheerleader at Cal U. who is majoring in criminal justice with a concentration in forensic investigations and also is majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry.
无毛视频淚 came here to cheer for Cal and I无毛视频檓 doing that, but I无毛视频檓 not going to have Cal U. on anything that I own now,无毛视频� she said.
Junior Micaela Ricco of Carmichaels said she understands the financial reasons behind the merger, but her sentiments echo those of Sortore.
无毛视频淚 also don无毛视频檛 like that my diploma isn无毛视频檛 going to say California University of Pennsylvania,无毛视频� said the health science major. 无毛视频淚 came here because it was Cal U. and now it无毛视频檚 not going to say Cal U. even though I无毛视频檝e been here the whole time.无毛视频�
Alivia Yauger of Uniontown was quite candid with her feelings about the name change.
无毛视频淚 don无毛视频檛 really like it,无毛视频� said the junior who is majoring in molecular biology. 无毛视频淚 think it无毛视频檚 very similar to Penn State. I think it无毛视频檚 literally the same thing.无毛视频�
Others she sat with at the Natali Student Center Friday morning thought the name sounded like a hotel or a utility company.
Some students seemed puzzled over the merger because of California无毛视频檚 location in relation to Edinboro and Clarion.
无毛视频淚 think it was kind of silly because Edinboro and Clarion are very close geographically,无毛视频� said junior John Barnes of McMurray. 无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e about two hours away from them. Why are we lumped with those schools? It doesn无毛视频檛 really make sense.无毛视频澛�
无毛视频淚 find it a little bit confusing, since it无毛视频檚 three different schools in three different areas,无毛视频� said David Zahnizer of Bethel Park, adding 无毛视频淚 wouldn无毛视频檛 necessarily say I hate (the name change), but at the same time I无毛视频檓 not that big of a fan of it.无毛视频�
Freshman Cameron Walters of Brownsville said he likes the new name.
无毛视频淚 think it无毛视频檚 the most professional way to categorize the three universities,无毛视频� said the art studio major who is minoring in business. 无毛视频淚t puts a label on top of all three without creating a complete new name.无毛视频�
Keon Dohn, a senior geology major from Greene County, said the merger made a name change inevitable.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 pretty accepting of it, but it does kind of take away from the individuality of our school,无毛视频� Dohn said. 无毛视频淪ooner or later, it无毛视频檚 all just be one conglomerate in the end, but it just feels sour.无毛视频澛� 聽
Mary Pickels, a 1982 graduate of California University, said she will maintain her Cal U. pride, but understands the reasons for the merger.
无毛视频淎s a proud 1982 graduate of the former California State College, I was excited to watch as the small school became California University of Pennsylvania,无毛视频� said the East Huntingdon resident. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 a staunch red and black supporter of all things Vulcan, who enjoys attending homecoming and visiting the campus.聽I无毛视频檓 glad the three schools under the Pennsylvania Western University umbrella still will have nods to their individuality, as with PennWest Cal, logos and mascots.
无毛视频淚f a merger is what无毛视频檚 needed to help the schools thrive, I无毛视频檓 all in favor of and support it. I hope it keeps faculty and staff employed and allows the three schools to continue to offer students a broad selection of academic and extracurricular options.聽Although I无毛视频檒l likely long refer to my alma mater as Cal U., I welcome Pennsylvania Western University and wish all three campuses much success.无毛视频�
The new name and accreditation for the combined campuses still has to be approved by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.聽聽
Students at the three campuses have been asked to select a design for the new name. However, the three campuses will retain their athletic branding and mascots.