I have to say I disagree with you as well, Jonathan. We merged with LIU sometime ago out of necessity and now we are LIU. I suppose this was inevitable considering the circumstances but I cannot imagine the students at the time wanted to be LIU students. And I would argue that removing "Friends World" may in deed prove detrimental to the advertising of this program. After all, so many of we students came to be at Friends World through word of mouth but now that "Friends World" no longer exists the alumni and current students may not be useful in spreading the word. Though, I would say this is not only an effect of the name change but of overall changes to the program. As a student with five semesters still to go, I am extremely ambiguous about what my future with this college, program, whatever it is, holds for me. My assumptions are that the reality for the students coming in the Fall of 2007 will be quite different from even my experience and certainly unrecognizable in comparison to Friends World College. And that all I can do is to continue to sequester as much academic freedom as I can during my time in Friends World (which it will always remain to me) until the day I am cut off. On that day I will simply need to choose my next path! Though I am anguished to think that day may in deed come and that perhaps the incoming students will not even get the chance to experience it. As a side note: I was confused by your mention of the logo not being centered over North America. I have never seen Friends World propaganda centered only over North America. I would say it is slightly disconcerting that the logo is centered over Asia. There has been a swing towards Asian centers with the closure of the London Center. I am more keen on the logo on this tribe webpage with the center in the middle of the pacific because I figure if one found the geographical center between each of the centers it would probably fall in the middle of the pacific, right? With all that said I do, however, agree with your last note. I certainly do not feel content with the manner by which the name came to change or the manner by which any of the changes have been made. But what can I say I am a woman of many opinions and much still to learn.

Respectfully,
Tina