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As the person at Mary Washington College who has served since 1997 as executive assistant for two presidential commissions on the university name, I write about two recent Free Lance-Star articles where additional clarification is needed.
In two front-page articles ["Name OK'd by panel," Jan. 23 and "U of MW change backed," Jan. 28] it was stated that research or "marketing data" were used by the college's board to determine the placement of the word "Mary" in the institution's proposed name, "University of Mary Washington." This is not the case.
Two separate studies were conducted by national research firms for this project. The opinions of alumni, current students, prospective students, and employees were sought concerning the move to university status.
I am not aware of any research that was devoted to placement of the word "Mary" in the university name or the effects that this particular word placement would have in the various university name options.
The studies showed strong majorities in all constituency groups favor- ing preservation of "Mary Wash- ington" in the new name and that the word "university" has overwhelmingly positive attributes, particular- ly among qualified prospective students.
The choice of name for legislative approval was ultimately the board of visitors' decision, as part of the responsibilities delegated to the board by the governor and the General Assembly of Virginia.
The board viewed all available data from alumni and other constituency groups, and it made the decision it believes best positions the institution for the future--for both the Mary Washington College campus and the James Monroe campus--and, in particular, for the vitally important role that the institution, as a whole, will play as part of the Fredericksburg region and this dynamic and grow- ing community.
Ronald E. Singleton
Spotsylvania
Ronald Singleton is vice president for advancement and college relations at Mary Washington College.