Mississippi
Mississippi University for Women pauses name change for third time in 2024. See the latest
Officials at Mississippi University for Women can’t seem to make up their minds.
After holding a ceremony on Feb. 13 to announce a new name, Wynbridge State University, there are published reports that MUW, which has struggled with its identity in recent years, is again pausing its attempt to change its name.
“In order give our entire community time to regroup and consider all perspectives, we will take a strategic pause at this time as we continue to work toward a future name change,” MUW President Nora Miller said in a Wednesday, Feb. 21 letter to alumni.
Search for a new name
In early January, university officials put out a press release announcing that they were considering changing the school’s name to Mississippi Brightwell University.
What’s in a name? What is The W’s new name now? Whatever it is, it will still be ‘The W’
How long will this go on? Will MUW proceed with new name, Mississippi Brightwell University? Time will tell
The university has been in search for a new name for more than 20 years to more accurately reflect the demographics of the school.
MUW officials said that more than 4,300 people participated in a survey about a name change. This included alumni, university faculty and staff, enrolled and prospective students and community citizens.
The backlash
After significant backlash on social media, the 2,000-student public school in Columbus broadened its effort to include more names for consideration.
Then came the announcement last week to re-name the school Wynbridge State University of Mississippi.
After the Jan. 9 release of the Brightwell name and subsequent backlash, the university then sent out an email to students and alumni, saying, “the Naming Taskforce has been working hand-in-hand with our communications agency Chernoff Newman to find a name that will allow us to continue to use The W branding. In keeping with our desire to hear from many constituencies, we are asking for feedback and suggestions from alumni, faculty, staff, and students.”
3 names
After reviewing the suggestions, three names were presented for consideration by Chernoff Newman:
- Wynbridge: The first part of Wynbridge comes from the Old English word for the letter W. Wyn was paired with bridge, which “connects the past to the future, our alums to our students, and our campus to our community.”
- Welbright: The first part of Welbright comes from the idea of wellness, “which represents our supportive environment that promotes the well-roundedness of our students.”
- Wynbright: The first part of Wynbright comes from the Old English word for the letter W. “Traditionally each graduation ceremony begins with a reminder of the historic purpose of the University, to ‘study for light to bless with light.’”
What alumni think
One MUW alum, Marie Harris of Gulfport suggests getting rid of the search process.
“What to rename Mississippi’s excellent university in Columbus? Just name it The “W,” Harris said. “Make it official. It’s unique. It’s what we alums call it anyway. Whether it’s The W or The “W” or “The W” … let the only disagreement be where to put the quotation marks. And when out-of-staters ask us what the W stands for, we can say We the People … or We Are Amazing … or We Can Be Whatever We Want to Be!”
Another alum, Mary Thomas Watts, who graduated from the school when it was known as Mississippi State College for Women more than 50 years ago, says she believes there is an honest effort to make a good decision.
“College students need something different than they did when I was in school,” said Watts, who now lives in Ohio. “I was not against the Wynbridge name. To me, it spoke to me more than the Brightwell name. With meaning for Wynbridge being a bridge between the past and present. I think they made a good case for that. I guess we will just wait for the next announcement. Ultimately, I have such great respect for the institution and gratitude for the education I received from there. I just want to see it grow and prosper. If a new name can make that happen, I am for it.”
However, the Mississippi Legislature will ultimately decide the matter, requiring an actual bill that includes the university’s new name to be passed and signed by Gov. Tate Reeves.
MUW fans who’d still like to comment on the matter or suggest a new name have that opportunity at NameChange@muw.edu.
Here is a complete list of the names that have been considered to this point.
Ross Reily can be reached by email at rreily@gannett.com or 601-573-2952. You can follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter @GreenOkra1.
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The Mississippi Pork Producers Association demonstrated several different ways to grill pork on the grill! Local Farmer Sean Boe also shared different facts about our state’s pork industry and how much it helps the economy and to feed people.
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JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The state’s top lawmakers and business leaders mingled at the Mississippi Coliseum on Thursday morning – tradition for the annual Hobnob event.
The Mississippi Economic Council played host for the 24th and final time.
If you’re involved with politics or business, you’ve heard of these three organizations and the work they’ve been doing.
The Mississippi Economic Council, the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, and the Business and Industry Political Education Committee.
“Mississippi needed a single authoritative and common voice for business,” explained MEC Chair John Hairston. “Policy makers were asking for clarity when it comes to legislative priorities. Business owners were asking for alignment of our policies, and our members were asking to become more impactful.”
So, these three groups will become one.
“Will represent every sector of Mississippi’s economy under one banner: the Mississippi Business Alliance,” said Scott Waller, MEC President and CEO.
The new rebranding was unveiled in front of the Hobnob crowd.
However, things officially began with the merged efforts on Jan. 1.
“Previously, you had legislators and policymakers trying to look for advice or input and they had three different organizations that were similar and overlapped,” described John McKay, current head of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association.
McKay will lead the Mississippi Business Alliance.
The joint organization will build on the already existing work of the three groups – everything from policy to workforce development and vetting of business-friendly candidates.
According to policymakers, there will be a value in having a singular group for business interests.
“These three organizations are merging not just to consolidate, but to elevate,” Gov. Tate Reeves emphasized.
“To have a unified voice is very helpful to those of us who are supposed to implement public policy,” Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said.
And they’re looking at this as more than a simple merger.
“It’s really a transformation of how we operate and sponsor the business community moving forward,” Hairston continued. “It’s the uniting of our collective strengths into one clear and very decisive force for progress into the future, for the benefit of our grandchildren and those that come after them.”
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JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – A Mississippi mother is searching for answers after not being able to get in contact with her daughter who is trapped in Jamaica from Hurricane Melissa.
Lori Washington, an Ocean Springs native, told 3 On Your Side that she has not heard from her daughter since Monday.
“Now my mind is flashing back to the phone call that I got when my soldier was killed,” Washington said. “My oldest boy was killed in 2014 and now I’m scared that I’m going to get another phone call.”
She shared that her daughter, Lasha Thornton, travels frequently for work and the last location she knew of her whereabouts was Trelawny, Jamaica.
Washington says Thornton just turned 26 and must’ve been in Jamaica for her birthday.
In a text from her daughter Monday, Washington shared that she informed her the airports were shut down, and she would have to wait out the storm.
It has now been two days since hearing from her daughter, and Washington is doing all that she can to find answers.
“Once some reporter over there can hear this and make sure that my daughter is either at the convention center, where they have some of the tourists, or if they can check, I just want to know she’s okay and that she’s eating and she’s hydrated,” Washington said. “And I want her to come home, it’s time to come home.”
According to a post Tuesday on the country’s government website, there were around 6,000 people in shelters.
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