FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2009
Contact: Anika Mitchell Perkins
(662) 329-7124
aperkins@pa.muw.edu

MUW takes another step in renaming process

COLUMBUS, Miss. - Mississippi University for University for Women has taken another step in the name change process.

On Thursday, MUW President Claudia A. Limbert charged Leadership Committee members with reviewing the names presented to them and developing pros and cons for each one. The committee included Dr. Pat Ainsworth, Alumni Association president; Dr. Eddie Betcher, MUW Foundation chairman; Christina Ewing, SGA representative; Robin Holliman, Staff Council president and Cathy Young, Faculty Senate president.

Limbert explained that the process had been slightly tweaked. “Rather
than receive from you a recommendation of a single name, the
university’s best interests at this point are served by having you
also offer thoughts on several names that were considered by the Naming Committee.”

Before the Naming Committee recommended three names a few months ago, it also considered several “name families” with several variations of particular names.

“The university will not be considering Welty as a potential name. As
you know, Welty-Reneau was one of three names put forward by the Naming Committee,” she said. “The initial testing by the Cirlot Agency
indicated there was some support for Welty as a stand-alone name;
however, additional testing proved inconclusive.”

As a result, the Leadership Committee was asked to provide pros and cons for the other two names-Reneau University and Waverley
University--recommended by the Naming Committee as well as provide pros and cons within the “families of names” including Callaway University; Hastings-Peyton University or Peyton-Hastings University; Magnolia State University or Magnolia University; Mississippi University of Columbus or University of Columbus; and University of North Mississippi, University of Northern Mississippi, Northeast Mississippi University or University of Northeast Mississippi.

After discussions, which lasted almost three hours, the committee
submitted pros and cons for each name.

The next step is for Dr. Limbert to make a recommendation to the IHL
Board for approval and then submit a proposed name to the Legislature in January 2010.