Some Dems Oppose Changing Antonin Scalia School Of Law's Name Over Acronym

McLEAN, Va. (CBSNewYork/AP) - George Mason University is tweaking its plan to rename its law school the Antonin Scalia School of Law to avoid an unfortunate acronym, but a group of state legislators wants to scrap the idea entirely.

The acronym spelled out ASSOL, or ASS Law.

Eleven Democratic lawmakers sent a letter Tuesday to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, asking it to reject the university's renaming plan. The university has said it needs approval from the council for the new name.

The university said last week that it planned to rename its law school the Antonin Scalia School of Law. The new name honoring the late Supreme Court justice was suggested by an anonymous donor who is giving the school $20 million.

On Tuesday, the proposed name was changed to the Antonin Scalia Law School after the previous acronym was mocked on social media.

"Under the terms of the anonymous gift, we are authorized to use a variety of different names. The name initially announced -- The Antonin Scalia School of Law -- has caused some acronym controversy on social media," law school dean Henry Butler acknowledged in a campus-wide letter, CBS News reports. "The Antonin Scalia Law School is a logical substitute."

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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