Switching names has been this semester’s priority for much of the campus, including the bookstore.

When Missouri Southern State College changed to Missouri Southern State University -Joplin, Greg Needham, bookstore manager, put the orders through for the clothing line with the word “University” on it.

He already had the company he orders from design certain items with the new university logo, but had the orders on hold until the name change was definite. Now students can buy certain T-shirts, polo shirts and sweatshirts that either read: “Missouri Southern State University” or “MSSU.” Needham said the university T-shirts are a big seller, especially with the football fans.

Needham started preparing for a possible name change last year by ordering items for the store that either said “Southern” or “Missouri Southern” and that left out the word “College.” Most of the merchandise that’s left in the store and has the word “College” on it or “MSSC” has been discounted 20 percent or higher.

“There’s a lot of things that still say MSSC,” Needham said.

Needham is trying to get rid of everything with “College” on it to make way for the new inventory.

“Everybody’s wanting something with ‘University’ on it,” he said.

Carley Haffner, junior business major, looked over some of the new MSSU sweatshirts and said she will probably buy something that says “University” on it soon.

However, she said she definitely wouldn’t buy anything else that still has the word “College” on it because that’s “not the right name” anymore.

Haffner doesn’t think anyone would want to buy something with Southern’s old name on it for full price, but she said some might not mind buying the “College” items if they are cheaper.

She still intends on wearing the clothing she has that says “College.”

“But, I wouldn’t buy anything new (with ‘College’ on it),” she said.

Needham already has in more orders for “University” merchandise that will arrive at the bookstore sometime this month. Once Southern has decided on some definite logos that include “University,” Needham said it would be easier to design logos for shirts, pendants and other items.

As of now, the only logo Southern has set in stone is its seal, he said.