Texas State University to shed 'San Marcos'

AUSTIN — The Legislature is close to approving a seventh name change for Texas State University-San Marcos.

The proposed tweak, approved unanimously Wednesday in the Senate and pending in the House, would drop “San Marcos” from the end of the school's name.

The change, which administrators expect to be the last, comes 10 years after the Legislature last altered the university's name from Southwest Texas State University to its current title.

“San Marcos” was included in the school's 2003 name change because officials wanted to keep options open for other schools in the system to adopt a system-based name, similar to school's in the University of Texas and the Texas A&M University systems, said Robert Gratz, special assistant to the president at Texas State University-San Marcos.

“Since that time, it has become clear that none of the other universities in the system — all named for Texas heroes— have any interest in considering a system-based name,” he said.

Vanessa Cortez, student body president-elect at the university, said she and a few other student government representatives visited Campbell in her Capitol office last week to give the senator a crash course on Texas State history in preparation for Wednesday.

Cortez said she supports the name change, although state Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, expressed concern that student's opinions weren't measured with a campus referendum.

Denise Trauth, the school's president, said the school is already referred to as simply “Texas State University” in most cases other than legal documents. The change also would clear up the confusion that resulted in the opening of a 101-acre campus in Round Rock in 2005, which is now officially known as Texas State University-San Marcos Round Rock Campus, she said.

“Eliminating the reference to San Marcos in the University's name should reduce confusion, making it easier for everyone to understand” that both locations are programs of Texas State University, Trauth said.

The bill's passage marks the first piece of legislation authored by freshman state Sen. Donna Campbell, that's approved by the full Senate. In keeping with tradition, the freshman lawmaker endured some hazing from other members.

Senior lawmakers typically ask obscure questions and test the freshman's knowledge of confusing legislative rules during the ribbing.

More Information Today's Texas State University-San Marcos has been known by many. Today's Texas State University-San Marcos has been known by many. 1899: Originally named Southwest Texas State Normal School 1918: Southwest Texas State Normal College 1923: Southwest Texas State Teachers College 1959: Southwest Texas State College 1969: Southwest Texas State University 2003: Texas State University-San Marcos 2013: (Proposed)Texas State University

Campbell, R-New Braunfels, was interrogated by senators on the history and tradition of schools throughout the Texas State system.

Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Jacksonville, asked Campbell if she knew Lamar University's mascot, to which she replied with a request for counsel.

“Isn't that what we do?” she quipped.

Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, encouraged Campbell to sing Texas State University's fight song on the Senate floor.

“There are some things that are left undone, unheard and unseen,” Campbell said, noting she likely would offend other members by singing.

Instead, she told West she would “put a tune” to a few lines from the fight song in the members' lounge during lunch.

“I'll give her an 'A' for effort, but a 'D' for quality,” said Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, who previously heard Campbell sing the fight song.

Campbell said she was excited about passing her first bill as a senator.

kparker@express-news.net