Kansas State president says K-State nickname is not on its way out

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) - It's Kansas State University, but apparently K-State is okay too.

According to a Kansas State news release, previous media reports -- including one previously published at this link – stating the Manhattan university was wanting to phase out the nickname K-State were not entirely accurate.

"We've been branding ourselves as Kansas State and Kansas State University for decades," Kansas State President Kirk Schulz said in the statement. "The nickname K-State has become common to those of us in the state and region, and we recognize the strength of being known to certain audiences as K-State.”

The Associated Press reported Schulz told Gov. Sam Brownback and business leaders Monday that the university is moving toward having one brand for the school, saying K-State works for athletics, but in Kentucky and other places, K-State refers to different schools.

But the university statement on Wednesday said those remarks referred just to how the university presents itself to those outside the region.

“Kansas State is the preferred usage” in other regions, especially in academic and scientific circles, the statement said.