Monday, July 16, 2007
War!
Yaman Salahi notes that the Office of Student Life, which student groups register at, have apparently become far more strict about student group naming rights. In the past, student groups could not name themselves something like "UC Berkeley Club for Doing Fun Stuff" because it would suggest UC approval, but they could call themselves something like "Berkeley Student Club for Doing Fun Stuff." Apparently the new regulations, according to some form letter, are:
Your proposed student group name could not be approved according to the Berkeley Campus Regulations and policy set forth by the Office of Marketing & Management of Trademarks (OMMT) at UC Berkeley.
The name "Berkeley" can be used in your student group name only if it is reference to geographic location, i.e., "at Berkeley" or "of Berkeley." You may not use the name "Berkeley" in any other way.
Additionally, the following names and corresponding variations may also not be used in your student group name: "Cal, at Cal, California, at California, UC Berkeley, and at UC Berkeley." I don't really see how the University of California can claim any ownership whatsoever to use of the name "Berkeley" (or "California," for that matter). It's a city. And a dead philosopher. According to this, I couldn't start a group "Student Philosophers that Agree with Bishop Berkeley."
Current student groups are not being asked to change their name yet, but it may occur in the future. (I disagree that Berkeley College Republicans are in danger, here. They're Republicans at a college in Berkeley. Then again, Berkeley College might have an issue.)
Cal has been somewhat odd about this in the past. They were angry about "CalStuff," and then angry about CalStuff's cursive font, and then angry about CalStuff's picture of the Campanile ("We, UC, have all ownership of all pictures taken of the Campanile anywhere in the world by anyone," or some such). I'm inclined to change the name of this blog to "Beetle Beat at Cal" just to piss them off.
Anyway, Yaman has already contacted the incoming Senators, I'm told, but remember that Student Action still dominates, and Student Action has gone through great lengths to demonstrate that it's the university's bitch. Maybe they can distinguish themselves from their predecessors on this.
I'll get more information on this, if I can, but remember, the University is afraid of two things: Lost money, and bad PR.
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