<p>Hi everyone,
I was reading the McGill Tribune online yesterday and I found this:</p>
<p>McGill to be Renamed!</p>
<p>Evidence confirms university founder’s name was McGull
Jay Alexander</p>
<p>Issue date: 4/3/07 Section: McGill Enquirer</p>
<p>A McGill professor conducting research within the dark labyrinth of the Redpath Museum has made a startling discovery that could severely impact the university’s image, as well as hundreds of thousands of diplomas, business cards and sweatshirts.</p>
<p>Lars Jorgenssohn, a professor of Scottish history, came across the troubling information while researching the early life of James McGill, who left seed money for the purpose of creating a university on his estate. </p>
<p>“I found that there was actually a misprint on the original birth certificate,” Jorgenssohn said, “and McGill’s family name is actually McGull.”</p>
<p>Quickly informed of the news, Principal Heather Munroe-Blum had only one thing to say: “****.”</p>
<p>As McGill was named for its founder, the discovery immediately prompted speculation that the university will now have to change its name to properly reflect its heritage. After taking a moment to digest the news, the principal emerged from her office to address the issue.</p>
<p>“We recognize that we’re going to have to change the name,” she said. “We’ll start with replacing the building signs and changing the Web site.”</p>
<p>Savvy students and club presidents who have had problems in the past with using the university name quickly jumped on the chance to copyright their club names.</p>
<p>“They’ve been bugging us about being the McGill Cancer Society for some time,” said club president Natasha Maclean. “So I just went out and legally registered McGull Cancer Society. There’s nothing they can do now.”</p>
<p>Another enterprising student in the computer science department said he had jumped onto the domain-squatting bandwagon.</p>
<p>“I definitely just bought mcgull.ca,” Thomas Findley, U2 computer science, said. “If they want it, they’re going to have to pay through the nose.”</p>
<p>The university bookstore has already begun to deal with the issue.</p>
<p>“It means a windfall for us,” said Barry Schmidt, director the McGill Bookstore. “So many people are going to come and trade in their old sweatshirts for ones that have the real name. At the same time, we’re going to make a killing selling off the last of the incorrect ‘McGill’ logoed kitsch. This stuff will fly off the shelves faster than a racist Chief Illinewek golf visor.” </p>
<p>Schmidt said that he had been in touch with a company that would be producing the new shirts, but was unclear on whether the firm would be using fair-trade non-sweatshop labour.</p>
<p>“Look, we normally make an obscene amount of profit on all this stuff,” he said, “and we’re going to continue to do that. If it means that our suppliers are a little sketchy, well, so be it.”</p>
<p>The Alumni Relations office has begun to contact former students about the issue, alerting them to the fact that their diplomas are from a university that no longer exists.</p>
<p>“We’re dealing with the issue,” said Ann Dowsett-Johnston, vice principal development and alumni relations. “If a student returns his or her diploma, we will shred it before charging them to replace it with the correct McGull name.”</p>
<p>Many students were surprised by Jorgenssohn’s discovery and said that they were beginning to question their decision to come to the university.</p>
<p>“I came here because McGill has a great reputation for drinking and partying,” said Jill Abraham, U0 management. “But McGull? What the hell kind of reputation does it have?” </p>
<p>Other students laughed at the impending name change.</p>
<p>“McGull. Sounds like some kind of bird,” said Tony Stewart, U2 philosophy. “But at least it won’t crap on your head.”</p>
<p>Jorgenssohn said that the error probably would have been discovered earlier if anyone actually bothered to go into the Redpath Museum, located in front of the Leacock building. </p>
<p>“It’s actually really obvious,” he said. “I’m surprised no one has noticed before.”</p>
<p>PLEASE…someone…tell me it’s a joke. I hate the name McGull. I don’t understand why they would want to change it anyway. I mean…it’s been so long. Can’t they just keep it as a charming little blooper? C’mon! What do you think? Am I alone in my opinion?</p>