<p>I don't understand why Berkeley has the nickname "Cal". Can someone please explain?</p>
<p>The University of Cal(ifornia)</p>
<p>It might have to do with the fact that Cal was the first college in California...right?</p>
<p>No, it wasn't. SM has it right.</p>
<p>It was the first of the UC schools, so (like SM has stated) it's been given the leading name Cal.</p>
<p>It's weird, at Cal sporting events, on TV, they always say Cal; I've never heard any announcery say 'Berkeley'.</p>
<p>I think it used to be called the University of California. That is, until other UCs started popping up.</p>
<p>Also the sports teams are called California Golden Bears right? So Cal is a shortened name for them. It's like a nickname, I guess.</p>
<p>It still is called the University of California, or California, at times. Yeah.</p>
<p>Berkeley is unique in that it can go by so many different names:</p>
<p>Berkeley
Cal
University of California, Berkeley
U.C.Berkeley
UCB
University of California
California
University of California at Berkeley
Cal-Berkeley (which is incorrect by the way, but still used nonetheless)</p>
<p>or even Berzerkeley... :)</p>
<p>The nickname "Cal" comes from the fact that we are the original University of California. "California" was used to refer to our university (just as all the other flagship state universities such as Arizona, Oregon, etc.) and thereafter shortened to "Cal." (i.e. you'll never hear UCLA referred to as "University of California" because Berkeley has "exclusive rights" to be called that since we were the first UC...) Unfortunately (for the purposes of promoting the Berkeley name), sportscasters ALWAYS refer to our sports teams as California or Cal. Sadly, MANY people don't even know that California or "Cal" refers to Berkeley.... that's not good for spreading Berkeley brand-name recognition... but that's a whole 'nother story/thread.</p>
<p>Thank you khan for that excellent explanation. =)</p>
<p>
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Unfortunately (for the purposes of promoting the Berkeley name), sportscasters ALWAYS refer to our sports teams as California or Cal. Sadly, MANY people don't even know that California or "Cal" refers to Berkeley.... that's not good for spreading Berkeley brand-name recognition...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yeah, but that cuts both ways. When Cal was put on probation as a 'repeat offender' for having violated numerous NCAA rules by both the football and basketball team (football for players receiving grades they didn't earn and for unauthorized player hotel charges and, basketball for a large recruiting scandal), I think it was good that the sportscasters kept referring to the school as Cal and not Berkeley. </p>
<p>So I suppose whether it is 'fortunate' or 'unfortunate' that the athletic teams are called "Cal" and not "Berkeley" depends on what the teams happen to be doing at the time. Sometimes having that brand-name separation is a good thing, especially when the teams are doing bad things. It wasn't that long ago when Cal athletics were scandal-ridden.</p>
<p>Why should the name Berkeley be promoted? That would be giving far too much promotion or credit for (or to) the City of Berkeley. UC Berkeley belongs to the citizens of California, not just the citizens of Berkeley. "Cal" or "California" should continue to be used as much as possible, not "Berkeley."</p>
<p>Wait, it doesn't really have to do with the City of Berkeley, it has to do with the STUDENTS of Berkeley. It is the students, faculty, and staff which makes it a great school, and why it deserves recognition. We call it Notre Dame, not to celebrate the city in France, but to celebrate the University's personal achievement.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Wait, it doesn't really have to do with the City of Berkeley, it has to do with the STUDENTS of Berkeley.
[/quote]
I completely agree. That's all the more reason to refer to UC Berkeley as UC Berkeley or Cal or University of California and not just Berkeley, to focus on the university and the students and not the city.</p>
<p>I'm sure when people say to refer to Cal as "Berkeley" they mean "UC Berkeley".</p>
<p>"I'm sure when people say to refer to Cal as "Berkeley" they mean "UC Berkeley"."</p>
<p>I disagree. First, many people prefer simply saying "Berkeley," not UC Berkeley. Secondly, even if all the people were saying they want our teams to be called "UC Berkeley" instead of "Cal," adding the presence of Berkeley at all leads to a higher likelihood of the prominence of the term "Berkeley." This would be disadvantageous to the citizens of California.</p>
<p>I think it's a contextual usage. When talking about intelllectual/scientific achievement, people will say UC Berkeley, or Berkeley (i.e. Nobel laureate John Doe is on the faculty of UC Berkeley/They figured out the cure for cancer at Berkeley) but for sports, it's Cal/California (Cal scored a TD).</p>