# Anyone else think this is silly? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 26, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298 "2011-05-26T15:17:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/21 "2011-05-26T15:57:32Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > Yes. UPennState is a State College in Philadelphia. You mean Univ. of Pennsylvania? They are two different schools. There might be a PSU branch campus there with a name such as that, but I was fairly sure that most branches contained the name of the surrounding area in their title (Penn State Erie, PS Altoona, etc.) Of course, there could be a 3rd distinguishable school there with the literal name of “UPennState,” but I’m having doubts. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/22 "2011-05-26T16:04:23Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > Yes. UPennState is a State College in Philadelphia. As an alumnus of The University of Pennsylvania, and as the father of a student at Pennsylvania State University, I can tell you they are two different schools. And the Nittany Lions would quash the Quakers any day of the week.:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/23 "2011-05-26T16:04:31Z")
> [@elninost0rm](#): > > You mean Univ. of Pennsylvania? They are two different schools. There might be a PSU branch campus there with a name such as that, but I was fairly sure that most branches contained the name of the surrounding area in their title (Penn State Erie, PS Altoona, etc.) > > Of course, there could be a 3rd distinguishable school there with the literal name of “UPennState,” but I’m having doubts. Many Ivy League schools are also State Colleges. Why, there’s an ag school (_cum_ hotel/motel management school!) in upstate New York called Cornell that’s another one. ---
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/24 "2011-05-26T16:12:17Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > Many Ivy League schools are also State Colleges. Why, there’s an ag school (_cum_ hotel/motel management school!) in upstate New York called Cornell that’s another one. Yes, but whether or not it’s a state college is not up for debate. Penn State University does not (and will never equal) the University of Pennsylvania. So saying “UPennState is a college near Philadelphia” is not accurate. I’ve never heard anyone refer to UPenn with “state” tacked onto the end. > [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > Uhm, I’m pretty sure UPennState is in Philadelphia. You were arguing that a college called “Penn State” is located in State College, PA which is absolutely true. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/25 "2011-05-26T16:48:58Z")
I want a Ball State _Alumnus_ sticker because I’m just one guy. Can’t seem to find one, though, and I just don’t feel plural. ---
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/26 "2011-05-26T16:52:37Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > I want a Ball State _Alumnus_ sticker because I’m just one guy. > > Can’t seem to find one, though, and I just don’t feel plural. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/27 "2011-05-26T17:21:49Z")
I, for one, think that anyone with “Alumn **i** ” on their car is an idiot. I suppose some cars have two owners and they’re both from the same school, but I doubt that’s the majority. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/28 "2011-05-26T17:43:56Z")
Although I didn’t go there, I really want the Morehead State sticker I saw a few years ago. It says: I (heart) More head ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/29 "2011-05-26T17:45:39Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > I want a Ball State _Alumnus_ sticker because I’m just one guy. > > Can’t seem to find one, though, and I just don’t feel plural. Those _Alumni_ stickers bug me because of this. It’s like proclaiming, “Here I am a college graduate, but I don’t even know the difference between singular and plural yet!” ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/30 "2011-05-26T18:03:52Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > I, for one, think that anyone with “Alumn **i** ” on their car is an idiot. I suppose some cars have two owners and they’re both from the same school, but I doubt that’s the majority. > [@needscoffee](#): > > Those _Alumni_ stickers bug me because of this. It’s like proclaiming, “Here I am a college graduate, but I don’t even know the difference between singular and plural yet!” People who only take the literal, at-face value reading of things bug me. It’s like proclaiming, “I can’t possibly comprehend being a part of a larger whole!” When you see a car owned by Nebraska fan, do you laugh at his “Husker Nation” sticker and say, “You can’t fit a whole nation in a minivan, that’s absurd!”? ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/31 "2011-05-26T18:10:22Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > People who only take the literal, at-face value reading of things bug me. It’s like proclaiming, “I can’t possibly comprehend being a part of a larger whole!” When you see a car owned by Nebraska fan, do you laugh at his “Husker Nation” sticker and say, “You can’t fit a whole nation in a minivan, that’s absurd!”? I always thought they were using the genitive singular of _alumnus_, to wit, _alumni_. As in “This is the car _of the graduate_.” Guess some people need to brush up on their second declension. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/32 "2011-05-26T18:13:39Z")
It’s because (gasp!) “Southeastern Bumfuck State Alumni” license plate frames and bumper stickers are sold by the Southeastern Bumfuck State Alumni Association. They’re promoting their organization. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/33 "2011-05-26T18:37:54Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > People who only take the literal, at-face value reading of things bug me. It’s like proclaiming, “I can’t possibly comprehend being a part of a larger whole!” When you see a car owned by Nebraska fan, do you laugh at his “Husker Nation” sticker and say, “You can’t fit a whole nation in a minivan, that’s absurd!”? I will now! ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/34 "2011-05-26T18:58:45Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Although I didn’t go there, I really want the Morehead State sticker I saw a few years ago. > > It says: > > I > (heart) > More > head I was at a basketball game years ago when they were playing (nearby) Eastern Kentucky University at EKU. The students did a shout and response cheer: “We want!” … “More Head!” … “We want!” … “More Head!” ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/35 "2011-05-26T19:14:33Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Although I didn’t go there, I really want the Morehead State sticker I saw a few years ago. > > It says: > > I > (heart) > More > head I didn’t find the above sticker, but I [did find this one](http://www.bookstore.moreheadstate.edu/MerchDetail.aspx?MerchID=914354&num=0&start=1&end=10&type=1&CategoryName=MSU%20INSIGNIA&CatID=1428&Name=MSU%20INSIGNIA). ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/36 "2011-05-26T19:48:20Z")
> [@elninost0rm](#): > > Granted, displaying “Penn State” could easily be perceived as a pompous brag… Oh, don’t worry…nobody who didn’t go there would look at it as something to brag about. Joke, of course. I are funny. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/37 "2011-05-26T20:14:14Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I will now! Yeah, I think I will be as well. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/38 "2011-05-26T20:21:06Z")
> [@elninost0rm](#): > > I’m not insecure about my accomplishments. I’m totally okay with the fact that I got the degree that I did at the school that I did. > > I just found it funny that he actually put his major on his car. First time I’ve ever seen it. I would agree it’s a little odd. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/39 "2011-05-26T21:06:05Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > I was at a basketball game years ago when they were playing (nearby) Eastern Kentucky University at EKU. The students did a shout and response cheer: “We want!” … “More Head!” … “We want!” … “More Head!” We were at an ECAC Hockey tournament game years ago when Saint Lawrence University was playing someone and the Saint Lawrence fans were chanting, “S L U” So we (the five of us) added a “T” at the end of every chant. That annoyed them. At another game, the rival team’s fans were greeted with the chant, “Safety school!” As for the alumni stickers on the cars, I remember seeing a cartoon (possibly in the New Yorker) showing a car with a sticker, “Harvard. Also accepted at Yale, Stanford, Princeton, Columbia and Georgetown.” ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298/40 "2011-05-27T13:38:14Z")
When I went there, I had a “University of Wisconsin - English” shirt just because it made me laugh. They had a bunch of the other “prestigious” ones: Law, Engineering, Medicine, and so on, and then the bin for the English majors. I bought it immediately. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-think-this-is-silly/583298.md?page=3)