Anonymous
05/23/2026 22:40
Subject: University of Mary Washington
Anonymous wrote:Have any colleges substantially boosted enrollment merely through renaming? Some of you all are way too fixated on this issue alone. Have there been focus groups establishing that the name Mary Washington is an issue?
It's not an issue. And no focus groups because it's a public with limited funds.
Anonymous
05/22/2026 23:21
Subject: University of Mary Washington
Anonymous wrote:I’m an MWC grad from the early’90’s and I remember a popular T-shirt sold on campus during the renaming debate. It said “A wise man can learn a lot from a good woman”.
Students definitely wanted to keep the Mary Washington name vs Washington Monroe.
I went to William & Mary in the mid 1990s and had a sweatshirt that said “Mary & William” on it.
Anonymous
05/22/2026 21:23
Subject: University of Mary Washington
Anonymous wrote:I have a solution to the naming conundrum. Obviously if you rename it after some dude, female alumni will rightly cry foul. Even if you renamed it something neutral like Fredericksburg University, they'd have a case to complain. But if you **raised the university's stature** while renaming it something neutral, that might just pass muster. Ergo...
UVA-Fredericksburg.
Start writing your state reps. It's a plan that can work.
What? No. It used to be part of UVA but there's no need to bring back that association.
Anonymous
05/22/2026 21:22
Subject: University of Mary Washington
Anonymous wrote:I’m an MWC grad from the early’90’s and I remember a popular T-shirt sold on campus during the renaming debate. It said “A wise man can learn a lot from a good woman”.
Students definitely wanted to keep the Mary Washington name vs Washington Monroe.
+1
I graduated then too and remember this vividly! I wish I had bought one of those t-shirts. When I attended, the guys (yes, I use the word "guys" too!) were very mainstream and sporty. Things have definitely changed since then. I've always maintained they need better marketing - all of their mailers, etc. showcase female students! If they would emphasize the male students a lot more, it would help.
Anonymous
05/22/2026 18:59
Subject: University of Mary Washington
Anonymous wrote:Have any colleges substantially boosted enrollment merely through renaming? Some of you all are way too fixated on this issue alone. Have there been focus groups establishing that the name Mary Washington is an issue?
I don’t think the school needs to change the name, it just needs a marketing revamp to stand out from other instate schools.
Anonymous
05/22/2026 18:34
Subject: University of Mary Washington
Anonymous wrote:Have any colleges substantially boosted enrollment merely through renaming? Some of you all are way too fixated on this issue alone. Have there been focus groups establishing that the name Mary Washington is an issue?
Idk if UMW can afford focus groups and I'm sure they wouldn't tell me if they did have one. We're making educated guesses like everyone else here.
Anonymous
05/22/2026 18:21
Subject: University of Mary Washington
Have any colleges substantially boosted enrollment merely through renaming? Some of you all are way too fixated on this issue alone. Have there been focus groups establishing that the name Mary Washington is an issue?
Anonymous
05/22/2026 18:12
Subject: University of Mary Washington
I have a solution to the naming conundrum. Obviously if you rename it after some dude, female alumni will rightly cry foul. Even if you renamed it something neutral like Fredericksburg University, they'd have a case to complain. But if you **raised the university's stature** while renaming it something neutral, that might just pass muster. Ergo...
UVA-Fredericksburg.
Start writing your state reps. It's a plan that can work.
UVA-Fredericksburg.
Start writing your state reps. It's a plan that can work.
Anonymous
05/22/2026 17:54
Subject: University of Mary Washington
I’m an MWC grad from the early’90’s and I remember a popular T-shirt sold on campus during the renaming debate. It said “A wise man can learn a lot from a good woman”.
Students definitely wanted to keep the Mary Washington name vs Washington Monroe.
Students definitely wanted to keep the Mary Washington name vs Washington Monroe.