Interestingly enough the “the” is actually part of the official name of the university
Anyway, not that anyone cares, but they’re not literally trademarking the word “the” - which of course would not be allowed. They’re trademarking its use in their font. Most likely they’re about to start selling merchandise branded with “the” but absent the rest of the name, hence the new trademark.
With regards to the conversation on religion, HoosierFrog seems awfully offended by Hawaiian beliefs which is quite ironic. Also, he seems to be missing the point that he (or anyone else) can display a nativity or the commandments or a statue of Baphomet or whatever the hell else he wants as long as its on private property. The state can’t do it because that’s an endorsement of a particular religion, which runs afoul of a certain founding document that guarantees freedom of religion.
I'm probably going to regret this, but here goes...
Establishing a religion and endorsing a religion are two totally different things and only 1 is prohibited by the 1st amendment. The 10 commandments in a court house do not prevent anybody from freely exercising their non-Christian religion.
I have a feeling Hoosier couldn't care less about a telescope on a volcano in Hawaii; I think he's just pointing out how strangely the 1st amendment seems to applied to Christianity differently than every other religion. The 1st amendment guarantees free exercise of religion; it does not grant freedom from religion. Somehow our courts have stretched it to read that way and I think that's a far more egregious violation of the 1st amendment than a memorial cross on a public hill.
One final distinction worth noting... The 1st amendment only applies to the general government. It is not supposed to apply to state or municipal governments. It begins with the clause "Congress shall make no law..." referring only to the U.S. Congress. Consequently, if Hawaii wants to claim this volcano as religiously significant land I believe that's the prerogative of the state and the general government should have no say in the matter.
Finally, I'd like to propose an amendment to the Constitution prohibiting tOSU from receiving federal funds just because I can't stand them. Darn em.