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TAMUK students want school name changed back to Texas A&I
Posted: 04.01.2009 at 8:48 AM
Marcy Martinez

Marcy Martinez is an anchor and reporter for Action 4 News.

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Many want Texas A&M Kingsville to change its name back to Texas A&I University.
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Could Texas A&I University be making a comeback?

College students in Kingsville are being polled as to whether they believe Texas A&M University Kingsville (TAMUK) should change its name back to Texas A&I University.

Action 4 News traveled to Kingsville to ask TAMUK students from the Rio Grande Valley how they feel about it.

Jorge Mata, a freshman from Harlingen, said he supports a push by a group of Texas A&I Alumni to revert back to the A&I name of 15 years ago.

“There's a petition circulating by alumni and I already signed that and Texas A&I day in Austin is set for April 8th…I will be attending,” Mata said.

But Alyssa Vela of Rio Hondo is she is opposed to the change.

She told Action 4 News that money should be spent on building upon the strong foundation her alumni family members know as Texas A&M Kingsville.  

"There's going to be too many expenses and we should spend on something more important, not that it's not important, but something like funds for school,” she said.

Students are being asked to choose which name they prefer in an online and written poll on campus.

The Student Government Association will write a resolution for state leaders that best supports the opinion of the majority.

Meanwhile, the battle continues over “AMK ALL THE WAY” or “TEXAS A&I TILL I DIE”.

"If we go back to A&I, in a sense we're losing our identity instead of trying to regain it back,” said student Lilly Anne Ortiz.

Mata said the A&I tradition started long before A&M was attached to the Kingsville school.

"Texas A&M is trying to take the reputation already established by Texas A&I, trying to claim it as its own,” Mata said.

Many students said regardless of the name, they're all Javelinas.

Two bills supporting the name change have already been introduced into the Texas Legislature.

Corpus Christ Caller-Times poll showed on Wednesday morning that 83 percent of people want the school’s name to go back to Texas A&I University.

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