"THE" Ohio State University

[Rattlehead02]

So, a friend and I were watching the Pats game last night and it brought up the question: When players anounce themselves, "Tom Brady, Quarterback, University of Michigan", when a player went to OSU, it's always, "Bob Smith, Kicker, THE Ohio State University." My friend said it has something to do with Ohio University trademarking (or something like that) the word Ohio. That sounds like horse-shit to me.

Anyone know why it is always THE Ohio State University?

[lno]

Consider the source, from a FAQ about OSU (http://library.osu.edu/sites/archives/manuscripts/faqs.htm) hosted at osu.edu:What was The Ohio State University’s original name and when was it founded?

The Ohio State University was named the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College when it was founded in 1870. It was decided at that time by a vote of the Board of Trustees that the college would be in Franklin County and, by another vote, placed on the Neil Farm. The first classes began September 17, 1873 with twenty-five students. The name of the college was changed to The Ohio State University in 1878, just in time for the first commencement on June 19 of that year.Bolding mine.

I admit this doesn't necessarily answer your question, but it does point out that The Ohio State University was never just "Ohio State University".

For what it's worth, I've submitted a question to the archivists at OSU's library regarding this. I'll respond to this thread when they reply.

[Polycarp]

Like North Carolina and California, Ohio has numerous state universities united in a state university system. I don't know this for a fact, but I'd suspect that "The Ohio State University" is the one which has precisely "OSU" as its name, as opposed to the other Ohio state universities (note the lowercase) such as Kent State.

In North Carolina, there are something like 15 state universities. But the University of North Carolina, with no suffix, is understood to be the oldest one, at Chapel Hill, and if you attend the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, at Wilmington, or at Charlotte, you attach the locator, including when acronyming it. Likewise Raleigh has the sole school named North Carolina State University, and it, not Chapel Hill or any of the others, is shortened to "State" in vernacular use. "State plays UNC" is a common sports headline, with the Raleigh school's team competing against the Chapel Hill school's team.

Likewise, the "The" applied to OSU is the verbal distinguisher that means "that school among Ohio's state universities that has the privilege of calling itself 'Ohio State University,' as distinguished from the state's other public universities."

[Dogzilla]

As a graduate of Ohio University, you might not want to get me started. I could make this a pit-worthy rant.

While your friend's theory sounds like horseshit... it's actually pretty close to correct, although I will point out that OSU was calling itself "THE" OSU long before the lawsuits over the use of the word, "Ohio." Keep in mind that "THE" OSU marching band (The Best Damn Band in the Land, they claim, although I have several bones to pick on that point as well), has a signature/trademark formation thingy they do at every game, where they create the script "Ohio" and the 1st Chair Tuba player gets to make a big deal out of breaking formation to run out and dot the "i". (And evidently, this is the only college marching band that does script formations instead of the oh-so-proletariat block letters) So, when OU decided to trademark "Ohio," TOSU got their football-worshipping panties in a big fat wad and sued my alma mater. The bastards. As if dominating football across the state isn't enough, THEY WANT TO RULE THE WORLD AND OWN ALL THE WORDS FOR IT!!!

Sorry. I'll take a deep breath.

Truth be known, OU was there first (1804 -- 1st university in the Northwest Territory) and OSU just suffers from academic envy. That and they only think they know how to party.

Anyway, the settlement was, IIRC, OU gets to use "Ohio" as our trademark, but OSU gets to do the script Ohio with the band without paying OU a royalty. (Or maybe they do have to pay a royalty -- memory is fuzzy on that part.) I believe they use "The" to imply that there is no other school in the state worth mentioning, which obviously chaps my ass and the assess of all the other millions of Ohio state school graduates whose mascot is NOT a useless nut.

Anyway, when people ask me where I went to school, since many, many Floridians are completely unaware that there is more than one state school in Ohio with a football team, I tend to say, "No, Ohio University, THE OTHER Ohio school." (Which is, of course, met with blank stares unless I'm talking to a former Ohioan who might actually get my joke.)

Bottom line, short answer: Egomaniacal puffery and self-delusion is all that is.

[dalej42]

Interestingly enough, other universities also use the "The." The main sign for Florida State University says "The Florida State University." Use of the "The" isn't common however.

[Duke]

As does Penn State. The diploma hanging right over my computer here reads "The Pennsylvania State University."

My WAG: "The" was added to Ohio State to better distinguish itself from Ohio University in common speech. Think of it this way: Florida State University, but University of Florida. Pennsylvania State University, but University of Pennsylvania. If I'm rattling off a list of universities, any listener would have no trouble distinguishing Florida State from Florida, Penn State from Penn. But: Ohio State University, Ohio University. So, Ohio State added a stressed "The," as if to say, "listen carefully here."

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

Interestingly enough, other universities also use the "The." The main sign for Florida State University says "The Florida State University." Use of the "The" isn't common however.

It sounds like it might be a holdover from the time when it was more common. Especially with high schools, older documents almost always style them as "The X High School", rather than just "X High School".

Interestingly, if you turn it around and use the "University Of X" construction, you have to have the "the". It's just one of those quirky points of syntax.

[AskNott]

Dogzilla, from another distinguished university in Ohio, writes:
Keep in mind that "THE" OSU marching band (The Best Damn Band in the Land, they claim, although I have several bones to pick on that point as well), has a signature/trademark formation thingy they do at every game, where they create the script "Ohio" and the 1st Chair Tuba player gets to make a big deal out of breaking formation to run out and dot the "i".

Gosh! It's unusual, if not unique, for a university band to proudly proclaim its own damnation! I had no idea... :eek: Even the ASU Sun Devil Band doesn't do that.

[Exapno Mapcase]

This is not an uncommon usage.

A quick run-through of the college listing in the World Almanac gives these examples:

The Art Institute of Colorado
The Art Institute of Phoenix
The Catholic University of America
The Citadel
The College of New Jersey
The College of New Rochelle
The College of William and Mary
The College of Wooster
The Colorado College
The Culinary Institute of America
The Evergreen State College
The George Washington University
The Illinois Institute of Art
The Master's College and Seminary
The Pennsylvania State University
The Union Institute
The University of Akron
The University of Alabama
The University of Findley
The University of Iowa
The University of Memphis
The University of Montana
The University of North Carolina
The University of Scranton
The University of Tampa
The University of Tennessee
The University of Texas
The University of West Alabama


I probably missed a couple, too.

In fact, I always thought it was The Massachusetts Institutive of Technology, but that's not how it's listed.

[brad_d]

True, but Chris Simms (for example) will likely say, "Chris Simms, University of Texas" (or maybe "University of Texas at Austin" if he's feeling pedantic) if he's ever taped for a starting lineup bit on Monday Night Football.

This is (IME) by far the dominant practice, whether the complete name of the school contains a leading "the" or not. Ohio State's insistence on using "the" when most similarly-named institutions do not is notably unusual.

[Acsenray]

I suppose a lot of the answers given here have some influence, but in the end it has nothing to do with trademarks or with Ohio University and it's not very rare. O.S.U. is far more well known than O.U. is. They don't have any reason to try to distinguish their name. The answer is just plain pomposity. Of course, most people don't use the "The" in regular conversation. It doesn't make any sense. And Ohio's newspapers also don't do it.

Actually, when my brother was at the University of Michigan in the early 1990s, he told me that at that time, Michigan was also insisting on the capitalized "The."

[lno]

For what it's worth, the staff at The Ohio State University Archives have responded:The reason why OSU is called "The Ohio State University," is simply because that is what was decided by the University Board of Trustees. The university was officially renamed on May 1, 1878. The following excerpt is from the Board of Trustee minutes:

"...the educational institution heretofore known as the 'Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College,' shall be known and designated hereafter as 'The Ohio State University.'"Extracting the motive of the trustees from that is more problematic, but it looks like the best factual (cough, cough) answer to this question is "Because they wanted it that way."

That leads to the question of "Why did they want it that way?" Without more information, the answer to that is "Because they did."

[Hermitian]

Dogzilla

I am sure you will be happy to hear this. OSU is not the only band to spell out words in script. The Clemson University band spells out "tigers" in script at their football games. Someone that is being honored usually dots the i. They always call it the "traditional script," but I have no idea how long they have been doing it.

So next time some prideful OSU fan tells you that, you can correct them.

[Balthisar]

Interesting enough I work with a lot of The Ohio State University grads. Of the, oh, 10 of us in my section, I'm the only one that's not (and we're located in Michigan where there aren't a lot of Ohio people proportionally speaking). Usually I hear the "THE" emphasized by people who are not OSU grads when referring to OSU, kind of cheeky in other words. The OSU grads themselves just say "Ohio State University."

[David Simmons]

Interestingly enough, other universities also use the "The." The main sign for Florida State University says "The Florida State University." Use of the "The" isn't common however.

As does the University of Iowa. When I went there it was The State University of Iowa but apparently the "State" has been dropped.

[Grasshopper]

As a student of The Ohio State Univerity, let me chime in.

Actually I don't have much to add, but students here either make fun of it or are actually quite proud of it. For example, I've seen people (freshman especially, it seems) write in their AIM profiles and away messages that they go to THE Ohio State University, always emphasizing the The and never just saying OSU. Then again, I've also had conversations like-

person you're chatting up: "So, where do you go to school?"
OSU student: "I go to Ohio State University."
other OSU student: "You mean The Ohio State University" *snicker and roll eyes*

That kind of thing. Oh, and Dogzilla, my sister went to OU and I went to orientation with her (Summer 1999). Some current students did these comedy sketches for us, and one had a girl writing a letter home to her dad. She said, "Thanks for not sending me to that other Ohio School!" :)

[AskNott]

There's a popular bumper sticker in northern Indiana; "Purdue--THE Indiana University." It's a dig at Indiana University and a joke on OSU's "THE."

[NoClueBoy]

In Oklahoma, we never think of any Ohio school when OSU or OU are mentioned. :rolleyes:

Instead, we proudly identify with land robbing cheaters! :dubious:




:p Go Sooners!

[Polycarp]

I wonder what The New York Times Style Book says about this! :)

[The Great Zamboni]

There is certainly pomposity involved when former players say it when introducing themselves. However, I rarely read THE Ohio State University in The Columbus Dispatch or any other newspaper for that matter, and THE is rarely said in any other Columbus media outlets. It seems to be an odd pompous formality and a point of pride used only by players and some others in the school. Personally, I find the use of THE a little annoying. I know what Ohio State University is, and THE really isn't needed.

IMHO, Ohio University students and grads tend to take the liberal use of an article a little to seriously.

[Acsenray]

I wonder what The New York Times Style Book says about this! :)

I don't have a copy of it handy, but in general, American newspapers don't capitalize a "the" at the beginnings of such names, whether they are names of universities or publications or other entities. There is often an exception for a self-reference, however. (Example: most newspapers refer to "the Associated Press" but the A.P. itself will say "The Associated Press").

[mhendo]

This is not an uncommon usage.

A quick run-through of the college listing in the World Almanac gives these examples:

<snip>

I probably missed a couple, too.

In fact, I always thought it was The Massachusetts Institutive of Technology, but that's not how it's listed.Here in Baltimore, the official university seal (http://webapps.jhu.edu/jhuniverse/information_about_hopkins/about_jhu/frequently_asked_questions/jhu_seal/seal4.jpg) of my grad school reads The Johns Hopkins University. Hardly anyone ever adds the definite article to the front of the name, however, and even the university's website (http://www.jhu.edu/) just says Johns Hopkins University.

[JerH]

Here in Baltimore, the official university seal (http://webapps.jhu.edu/jhuniverse/information_about_hopkins/about_jhu/frequently_asked_questions/jhu_seal/seal4.jpg) of my grad school reads The Johns Hopkins University. Hardly anyone ever adds the definite article to the front of the name, however, and even the university's website (http://www.jhu.edu/) just says Johns Hopkins University.
IIRC, they made a conscious decision a few years back, when they redesigned the University logo, to stop emphasizing the "The." When I was there, oh so many (OK, ten) years ago, they were still saying "The Johns Hopkins University" on everything. I guess they decided to devote their efforts to making sure everyone remembered the S on the end of Johns.

[ElvisL1ves]

While we're at it, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, on the banks of the Miami River in the former territory of the Miami Indians, had been there for generations before the city in southern Florida was even founded. But do RedHawk fans ever get any peace about the "silly" name of their school? No. Do they ever even get clearly understood outside the region when they say they go, or went, to the college in Ohio, dammit? No. Do the 'Canes ever have to say they go to "Miami of Florida"? Well, once upon a time, but not recently, no. Duke, I'll go along with your guess that it's to avoid confusion with the older, smaller, once more-intellectual but now party-hearty school in Athens that didn't have the foresight to use the name "U. of Ohio". The student bodies of Indiana University and California State College have little excuse for their troubles explaining why they're in Pennsylvania, though.

FWIW, in Columbus, my former home, the "The OSU" construction is essentially a joke, spread mainly by football players. More commonly, it's called "State" or "The Farm".

Exapno, I've never heard of an Institutive. FWIW, the stone-carved letters over the main entrance to MIT read "MASSACHVSETTS INSTITVTE OF TECHNOLOGY, WILLIAM BARTON ROGERS, FOVNDER". No "The". And why, btw, would a stone carver be able to cope with S's but punt U's?

[Acsenray]

While we're at it, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, on the banks of the Miami River in the former territory of the Miami Indians, had been there for generations before the city in southern Florida was even founded. But do RedHawk fans ever get any peace about the "silly" name of their school? No. Do they ever even get clearly understood outside the region when they say they go, or went, to the college in Ohio, dammit? No. Do the 'Canes ever have to say they go to "Miami of Florida"? Well, once upon a time, but not recently, no.

Having attended Miami myself, I feel the pain. Every time it comes up, I point out that the name of the institution is "Miami University," not the "University of Miami of Ohio" or some such ridiculous locution. And I also point out that the idiots who named Miami, Florida, purposely picked an Indian tribe that lived in Ohio, not in Florida.

Exapno, I've never heard of an Institutive. FWIW, the stone-carved letters over the main entrance to MIT read "MASSACHVSETTS INSTITVTE OF TECHNOLOGY, WILLIAM BARTON ROGERS, FOVNDER". No "The". And why, btw, would a stone carver be able to cope with S's but punt U's?

I'm not sure whether or not you're kidding, but just in case: there's no "punt" here. Those who carve legends into stone often follow Roman custom, often to the extent of writing in Latin. In the Roman alphabet, there was no "U." "V" was the letter for both the consonant and the vowel. Indeed, many believe that they were pronounced the same, more like a "w" than either a "u" or a "v."

There also was no "J" or "W" in the Roman alphabet and many inscriptions reflect that as well.

[Shagnasty]

We have had lengthy threads here about how and why U.S. colleges and universities got their name. It can be confusing because there is no standard. Most states have flagship schools mixed with other college systems. Some call the main university "University of State X" to make their point. Some have "X State university" as their flagship school with other schools taking on competing names. Mix in the private schools and you can't just assume anything at all in terms of where the school is located geographically, whether it is really a college or a university, if it is a state school at all, or if it is a flagship school within a state just based on the name alone. You have to look at each individual school. It is all about what people thought was the best marketing name available when the school got its name.

[Omniscient]

The OP is basically asking 2 questions. Most of the responses seem to be dwelling on just the least nuanced one.

Question 1: Why is it called "The Ohio State University?"
Answer: Because that's the way the board of trustees wanted it. It's in no way uncommon or unique. Lots of universities, and lots of other businesses and other proper named organizations for that matter, attach an unnecessary "The" at the beginning of their official name. Disney is technically called "The Walt Disney Company" and Coke is "The Coca-Cola Company."

Question 2: Why has emphasizing the "The" in the name become something of a fad for this university in particular?
Answer: That's a tougher question. It might have something to do with the conflict with Ohio University over the limited trademark dispute. OU trademarked the word in 1995, OSU filed suit opposing it in 1997 I believe. I'm not sure when the emphasis meme began or when it took off. The first time just about anyone heard it nationally was when an OSU player said it in his MNF introduction. I don't know who or when that was, but I suspect that it was just one athlete trying to stand out from the crowd. He likely had little interest or knowledge of the OU/OSU dispute, it caught on and then Miami started calling themselves "The U" in intros to compete for attention. Both "The U" and "THE Ohio State University" probably existed on their campuses long before they got brought into national prominence on MNF but you'd have to ask the players who did it first why they chose to do it. It could be something as stupid as a dare by a friend.

[Mahaloth]

The Zombie Thread!

[samclem]

Opened by a zombie, closed by a Mod.

samclem