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RICHMOND--It looks like future Mary Washington College gradates will have another name on their diploma: the University of Mary Washington.
On a 37-2 vote, the Virginia Senate approved yesterday a bill that makes Mary Washington College part of the University of Mary Washington, despite Sen. Edd Houck's last-ditch argument against that syntax on the Senate floor.
The college's board of visitors and its administration want the name changed to University of Mary Washington to reflect the school's new university status.
But alumni, students and faculty groups wanted the new name to be "Mary Washington University" to focus on the "Mary Washington" portion of the name and to conform to the syntax of most other universities in the state.
It was this point of view Houck tried--first when the bill was in committee, and again before the full Senate's vote yesterday--to represent.
He told his fellow senators that "a lot of alumni, a lot of faculty, a lot of students really disagree" with the University of Mary Washington syntax.
Houck said that syntax was chosen after marketing studies indicated having the emphasis on Mary Washington "causes a certain chilling effect of those who may feel this is an all-female institution, which of course it is not.
"What they've attempted to do now is at least push 'Mary' back," Houck said. "It's perpetuating a gender bias that we long since should have gotten over and away from."
The bill's sponsor, Sen. John Chichester, R-Stafford, spoke briefly in defense of the chosen syntax, and noted that not all university names in the state are masculine.
Chichester noted that the name Virginia is not masculine.
He said he could "concede that 'Mary Washington University' flows better" but said the argument will fade in time.
"No, it doesn't flow as well, but it's getting better," Chichester said.
Sen. Toddy Puller, D-Fairfax, said she is the first graduate of Mary Washington College to be a member of the legislature. The school was all-female when she attended.
Puller said she remembered wearing a "Keep the Name" T-shirt during efforts to change the school's name in the 1980s. And she opposed recent proposals to call the college "Washington and Monroe University."
But Puller voted for the University of Mary Washington change.
"Although I'm not thrilled with University of Mary Washington, it still has the name, and I'm going to vote for it," Puller said.
In the end, only Houck and one other senator--Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta--voted against the bill.
An identical measure has already passed the House of Delegates.
To reach CHELYEN DAVIS: 804/782-9362 cdavis@freelancestar.com