http://www.beaufortgazette.com/24hour/sports/story/744015p-5402117c.html
USOC gets catty over 'Rat Olympics' Published Fri, Jan 31, 2003 The Associated Press LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A small event at a small Nebraska college has caught the eye of a large national committee. Organizers of Nebraska Wesleyan University's annual "Rat Olympics" have been told by the U.S. Olympic Committee to change the name of the 28-year-old event. University officials received a call this month from a legal adviser with the committee, telling the college it could be sued if it did not stop using the name "Rat Olympics." The Rat Olympics are the annual Behavioral Learning Principles class project to teach rats to perform in various competitive events. The competition has been featured on local and national media outlets. Wesleyan spokeswoman Sara Olson said the school was advised "Olympics" is a protected name under federal law. A few exceptions are allowed, such as the Special Olympics, but Wesleyan's event doesn't meet the criteria for exemption. Wesleyan will hold a contest to choose a new name for the competition, Olson said. Until then, it's being called "the event formerly known as the Rat Olympics," she said. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
