Why do they call them 'Cal' or 'California' and not Berkeley?

[El Supremo]

I mean, man, everybody who goes to school there calls it Berkeley. i Know it is the main campus of the University of California. But with all the other branches like UCLA and all...

Well, BERKELEY may just be going to the Rose Bowl for the fist time in 48 years!

[Jack Rabbit]

1. It is the main campus. It has always been called "Cal".

I'm delighted that Cal may be going to he Rose Bowl.

[Bill McBlueState]

2. I have a theory

I was thinking about this yesterday and wondered if the NCAA/media operation decided long ago that the left-wing connotations of the name "Berkeley" would turn off a lot of the college sports fanbase. It wouldn't, but it's the sort of thing TV broadcasters, who are usually pretty paranoid, would be afraid of.

[ticapnews]

3. It's not an anti-leftist conspiracy

It is the flagship campus of the state university system, therefore it is known simply as The University of California (or Cal for short). However, every other state university is identified with the "University of California" + their location: University of California Los Angeles, University of California Santa Barbara, etc. The same is true here in Maine. The Orono campus is simply The University of Maine; every other school is "The University of Maine at..." Machias, Fort Kent, Augusta etc.

It isn't some conspiracy to keep people from acknowledging that Cal is in Berkeley, anymore than it's a conspiracy in Maine to keep people from acknowledging Orono's existence.

[BOSSHOG]

4. Same in Arkansas

There is UA-Pine Bluff, UA-Monticello, UA-Little Rock and then there is THE University of Arkansas which is located in Fayetteville and which does not need the geographical tag.

I think CAL is very appropriate, so everyone in the state can take pride in their accomplishments.

[Longhorn]

5. Same in Texas.

In fact, there are several statewide systems: The University of Texas System, Texas A&M University System, and Texas State University System, that I know of.

When Southwest Texas University wanted to change its name to Texas State University, the folks at Sam Houston State were not happy about it because it makes it seem as though Texas State is the flagship university of the Texas State University System, which it technically is not, even though it is the largest of the member universities with more graduate programs and may be just a few years away from moving up to NCAA Division I status. So Texas States' full name is now Texas State University-San Marcos.

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

6. Indiana University goes by various initials for different locations

Indiana University - IU - Bloomington - This is The Main Campus, Most people at any other campus just call it bloomington
Indiana University East - IUE - richmond
Indiana University Kokomo - IUK
Indiana University Northwest - IUN - Gary
Indiana University South Bend - IUSB
Indiana University Southeast - IUS - New Albany

Indiana/Purdue Joint Schools
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis - IUPUI
Indiana University Purdue University Columbus - IUPUC
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne - IPFW

[Captain Hilts]

7. I agree with the OP. The world calls it "Berkeley," "Cal" is the system.

That's how it plays back East.

THANKS for asking this!