On Va. Campus, A Slight Degree Of Discontent

"It's the only public institution of higher learning named specifically for a woman, and we're very proud of that," said Steve Watkins, an associate professor of English. "We [wanted to preserve] that as a way of recognizing women's contributions to society."

Yet when a naming committee appointed by Anderson met in November, a surprising split vote emerged. A slim majority of 10 favored Washington & Monroe, while nine opted for a previously unheard-of choice: the University of Mary Washington.

Days later -- after a spirited protest at which students chanted "Who's the bomb? George's mom!" and "Wash-Monroe, hell no!" -- the school's Board of Visitors voted unanimously for the University of Mary Washington.

What, meanwhile, had happened to Mary Washington University? Some on campus theorized that it had been ditched in an attempt to scoot the college away from the other Marys with which it is often confused -- Mary Baldwin College, Marymount University, Mount St. Mary's, St. Mary's College of Maryland -- or to subvert its femininity.

Not at all, said Martin A. Wilder Jr., vice president of admissions and head of the naming committee. The University of Mary Washington, he said, was suggested by a student member, and people just liked how it sounds.

"It simply has a more prestigious and distinctive tone," he said, offering comparisons to the College of William and Mary and the University of Notre Dame.

But the name triggered yet another debate -- this time about syntax. Some faculty insisted that the construction "University of . . ." should precede only a geographic location, not a person. State Sen. R. Edward Houck (D-Spotsylvania) argued against the name change on syntactical grounds before the Virginia legislature. (It ultimately passed.)

"I think the name is awkward," Houck said last week. "And it certainly diminishes Mary. . . . I haven't found anyone other than those who were paid to say it who felt that this was the most appropriate name."

Wilder, though, said he did not believe there is anything "technically incorrect" about the name. "It is unusual," he said. "One of the reasons I preferred it is because it was unusual."

In fact, Wilder said Mary Washington could see a rise in the number of applications this year because of the attention drawn by the name change and the luster of its new status as a university.

Meanwhile, college officials were busily changing all the things that needed changing with the advent of the new name -- signs, stationery, Web sites, e-mail addresses, voice-mail messages, the emblem design for class rings.

"It's like moving," said spokeswoman Margaret Mock. Altogether, the change will cost about $200,000, to be split between the university and its fundraising foundation, she said.

Some said that it's the mere habit of saying "Mary Washington College" that could be the hardest to change. But students said it should be no problem -- most just call the place "Mary Wash" or "M-Dub" anyway, said Ryan Butts.

"So either way, that will still work," she said.