THE question of the name to be given to the North's second university exercised the Stormont cabinet 30 years ago.
At a meeting on April 7th, 1966, the minister of education, Mr William Fitzsimmons, circulated a memo on the issue.
The minister informed colleagues: "The Academic Planning Board has already taken the view that the name chosen should be short and should be readily comprehensible geographically throughout the UK.
"I consider it important also that the university is intended to serve the whole of Northern Ireland and not the north and west of the country only. I would also be anxious to secure a name to which exception could not reasonably be taken either in Coleraine or in Londonderry."
According to the minister names suggested included the University of Colernine, the University of Dunluce, the University of Derry and "the University of Derry/Londonderry".
The first was insufficiently known outside Northern Ireland and could create difficulties with Derry city. The "University of Dunluce" was "insufficiently known". The "University of Derry/Londonderry" was not acceptable in Coleraine and would suggest a wrong balance as between Coleraine and Derry city.
Other names included the University of the Atlantic and the University of the Bnnn, although the minister noted that "the word `Bann' has an unfortunate connotation". His own choice (and the name by which the university is now known) was the University of Ulster.