MORE than 3100 people have signed an online petition calling for Charles Sturt University (CSU) not to change its name in an upcoming ‘rebrand’.
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The rebrand was announced by the university on Friday, with Wiradjuri suggested as an alternative and a “fantastic thing” for reconciliation.
A CSU spokeswoman said the institution was “working on a refresh for our brand, to ensure we speak clearly and consistently to our students, staff and members of the public”.
“As part of this refresh, we are investigating the possibility of altering the name of the university,” she said.
Since the announcement, however, people have taken to a change.org petition to slam the idea as a waste of money and loss of tradition and history.
“As a CSU alumni I believe this is an unnecessary waste of money and can be better spent improving the education towards students learning,” Tayla Martin posted to the petition.
As a CSU alumni I believe this is an unnecessary waste of money and can be better spent improving the education towards students learning.
- Former CSU student Tayla Martin
CSU student Sarah Roetmam was another of the signatories on the petition.
“My fees should be going towards increasing the quality of my education, not re-branding,” she wrote on the page.
Heather Foster wrote on the petition that she feared that “our heritage will become non-existent”.
“I am signing this petition as the name Charles Sturt is synonymous with Australia’s history and should be kept as such,” she wrote.
“Stop this insane name changing etc in the name of political correctness. Charles Sturt University should be kept as it is.”
Daniel McPherson also signed the petition and said his family had a very close tie with CSU.
“My grandfather was instrumental in the establishment of Charles Sturt University when he was a member of parliament and it would be an insult to his legacy if the name was changed just because someone was bored with the current one,” he wrote.
The university began in 1989 and was named after an explorer who traversed inland NSW in the 1820s and 1830s.
CSU has campuses in Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, Wagga Wagga, Albury-Wodonga and Port Macquarie.
CSU vice-chancellor of students Jenny Roberts told ABC radio the name Sturt University had been suggested, but said a final decision would be subject to consultation.
It is expected a new name would be in place for the 30th anniversary of CSU in July.