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Show Keep 'technical' in the Utech The question surrounding the proposed name change for Utah Technical College at Provo-Orem isn't whether . a new name is needed but what should the new name be. Because if ever an institution needed a new name, this one does. The current name is a source of confusion in more ways than one. In the first place, it is confusing as to the location of the college. Is it in Orem, or in Provo. The answer that it is in both does little to resolve this confusion. A more general location, such as Utah Valley, would eliminate a lot of that problem. Secondly, there is a lot of confusion between the local school and the Utah Technical College at Salt Lake, because only the part of the name indicating location is different. That type of similarity in names indicates a relationship not shared by the two schools - and often makes it difficult to know which institution is being discussed when the Utah Technical College is mentioned. men-tioned. But the controversy surrounding the suggested name change focuses on the word "technical" and what it means to the school. Those who favor changing the school's name to Central Utah Community College claim that "Technical" is an epithet that calls back to the day's of the "Trade Tech" when that term was synonymous with inferior education. Removing the technical from the college's name would also indicate a broader appeal, and eventually lead to a more extensive liberal arts education offered by the school. In short, they argue it would expand the school's horizons while helping to eliminate a negative image. However, those opposing removing the word "technical" from the title argue that the technical part of the college is what it really has going for it. And it is the school's growing reputation as a place of technical training that will erase the school's negative image, rather than simply a cosmetic name change. Certainly it is time for the Utah Technical College at Provo-Orem to think about changing its name, but it seems ill advised to change the name in such a way that would minimize or downplay the institution's strongest offerings. It would make more sense to change the name to something that will give the college that new identity so avidly sought by the present administration while at the same time retaining the word "technical," to preserve for the school the prestige its technical offerings have earned. Such a compromise would allow both sides to gain -with a new name to create a new and separate identity for the school and the inclusion of "technical" in that name to highlight the institution's strongest points. |