Group tries to reignite debate over Université de Moncton's name
Opération Nouveau Nom, a citizens' committee, asks people to vote on 3 choices
A group pushing for a new name for New Brunswick's only francophone university is presenting some possibilities for the public to consider.
Opération Nouveau Nom — or Operation New Name — is using its Facebook page to gauge support for three proposed names for the Université de Moncton, which decided not long ago that no change is needed.
In 2024, the citizens committee behind Opération Nouveau Nom formed a working group to evaluate possible names for the university. The working group was made up of several university alumni, professors and deans, including former dean of the Edmundston campus Adrien Bérubé and former dean of the Shippagan campus Nicolas Landry.
The working group's report proposed these options: Université d'Acadie, Université francophone Atlantique and Université Nouvelle-Acadie.
Lise Ouellette, a spokesperson for the campaign, said the university is unique in its Acadian heritage, French language and provincial span, something the current name doesn't highlight.
"We believe it is time to review [the name] and try to choose a name that better reflects the mission of the university," said Ouellette.
What's in a name?
The advocates of a new name, say the current name highlights the city of Moncton, although the university has satellite campuses in Edmundston and Shippagan.
And the university was named after the city — which was named for Col. Robert Monckton, an 18th-century British military figure who was involved in the deportation of Acadians in 1755.
Despite these critiques, the university has resisted attempts to change the name, including one in 2023, when the board of governors voted against change.
At the time, board president Denis Mallet said it was not a priority of the university to change the name, and no new information was presented from those who wanted the name changed than was presented in the past.
"Since the last demand to change the name we try to see … if there was some new element … [that would] bring the board to change their view," Mallet said.
"There was none."
For the group's part, Ouellette said she doesn't understand why the university has been so opposed to changing the name of the university.
"We again have such a hard time to understand the position of the university on this issue," said Ouellette.
A 2023 report commissioned by the university pegged the cost of a name change at $4.6 million.
It appears that the student body may also oppose a name change.
During recent student union elections, students were asked if they thought the name of the university should be changed, and 89 per cent voted no. About 33 per cent of the U de M student population voted during the election.
Ouellette said she wasn't surprised by the vote outcome. The fact more than 10 per cent of students said they did want a name change was a positive sign, she said.
Conditions have changed since '60s
CBC News tried for comment from the university about the latest name-change effort.
The university replied in an email that no official interview would be possible and there would be no statement on the issue.
Silence from the university is fitting with a strategy outlined in internal university emails obtained by Radio-Canada through a right-to-information request.
Ouellette said the name of the university came at a time when there was anxiety around the concept of a francophone university, so the name was a compromise.
"It's very difficult to contextualize the word Moncton for a francophone university," said Ouellette.
"We understand the context in the '60s. We're not there anymore."
The group is asking for people to vote on the name they would prefer. Voting is open until March 22.
With files from Information Morning Moncton
