Two Springfield legislators propose SMSU name change
Published Dec. 3, 2004
Two Springfield legislators revived the proposed name change of Southwest Missouri State University to Missouri State University for the 2005 General Assembly session.
Sen. Norma Champion, R-Springfield, and Rep. B.J. Marsh, R-Springfield, both filed bills Thursday to remove the regional distinction of the school's name.
Marsh said he was hopeful the bill would pass.
"I hope that eventually the legislature will see it is not a threat to MU in any way," Marsh said. "They need to be worrying about other universities, like Illinois, Kansas and Oklahoma instead of SMS."
Marsh said SMSU deserves to be recognized as a state university.
"(SMSU) has 500 international students" I don't think they're a regional university," Marsh said. "I think we would draw more out of state students and help the state's overall economy."
Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, said the name-change issue is about economics.
"They are trying to elevate their status above all the other regional universities to a second flagship status," Graham, D-Columbia, said. "We simply can't afford that type of system in the state."
Graham also said prestige was a factor.
"They can have any other name they want" they just can't steal our historic name," Graham said.
Jim Baker, assistant to the SMSU president, said he is optimistic about the chances of a name change passing.
"I think the chances are very good," Baker said. "The governor-elect has indicated it as one of his priorities. It has the best chance it has had in a long time."
Baker said he wanted to move on from the name-change issue.
"I'm very hopeful we can get this thing taken care of so we can get on to other things," Baker said. "We have a lot of collaborative things going on between SMS and MU. I think a lot of people miss that."
Shawn Borich, Board of Directors chairman for the Associated Students of the University of Missouri, said UM system students oppose the bill.
"ASUM feel that if we allow Southwest Missouri to change its name to Missouri State University, they are going to attempt to expand the scope of their mission," Borich said. "They will create a battle for appropriations at a time in the state's history when it cannot fully fund its statewide public university."
Marsh said Champion was "very adamant" about passing the bill. Champion, who sponsored the Senate version of the bill, could not be reached for comment.
Graham said any efforts to filibuster an MU funding bill if this bill did not pass would be counterproductive.
"The funding for SMS and MU is in the same bill," Graham said. "If someone wants to filibuster the MU funding bill, she's filibustering her own funding bill."
Marsh said he thinks he will be able to reach out to legislators on the other side of the issue to get the bill passed.
SMSU will celebrate its 100th anniversary on March 17. Baker said a name change "would be a nice birthday gift for the university."
UM system spokesman Joe Moore said he could not comment on the proposed legislation, saying university officials have not yet read the bills.
