By Jared Fields, Editor in Chief

Ambler Avenue could become an answer to an ACU trivia question.

The university proposed changing the stretch from Interstate 20 to Grape Street to University Avenue, but it withdrew the request Aug. 24.

Despite the withdrawal to rename the street,

ACU has not dropped the subject completely. ACU dropped its proposal because of concerns renaming the street could raise. Associate Vice President for Administration and Chief Operations Officer Kevin Watson said the application to the city council was pulled back for further studies on the change’s impact.

“There’s already a University Boulevard behind Hardin-Simmons, [and could be] confusion related to that name change,” Watson said. “What we’ve said is we’re interested to do what’s best for the city as well.”

Problems related to the similarly named streets could arise with 9-1-1 calls and similar situations where the two streets could be confused, Watson said. Also, residents and businesses along the street must change their address.

“I think it can get done and would be disappointed if it didn’t,” said Executive Vice President for Finances Phil Schubert. “Other than [the confusion] I’d be very surprised if we didn’t get that done.”

The increased amount of traffic on Ambler Avenue since the Wal-Mart opening is another reason ACU wants to rename the street.

Along with the plan for a park off I-20 on Ambler, Schubert said renaming the street would further the university’s
goal of conveying a university atmosphere to traffic driving on I-20.

Watson said a friend of the university gave him the idea for the name change and took the idea from there.

Schubert said the idea made perfect sense for both universities.

“I didn’t think about it initially, but it’s a great idea,” Schubert said.

The university said a timetable is not set for the proposed name change. Watson said the university needs more research before a decision can be made and added, “We don’t have a way to gauge that.”