Over the past few years, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend at our university. At football games and other events, people proudly declare that “Hammond, America” has more spirit than anywhere else. To that I have one thing to say: we are not “Hammond, America.”

We live in the metropolitan area of Hammond, Louisiana, which has thrived in part thanks to the university. It’s fantastic to see a college town growing into a bigger, better city for the future generation. However, I can’t stand the thought of that generation picking up something so silly. 

You see, there are at least 14 states that have a town or city named Hammond. That’s right, we are not the only Hammond in America.  

I take pride in being from Louisiana, and I think that when people brush over the name of our state to call us “Hammond, America” they are making themselves look as uneducated as the rest of the country already thinks we are due to the media. When you say “Hammond, America,” you are disrespecting our state, and I feel personally disrespected for the use of such an incorrect label for this city.

Sure, it may have been a joke the first few times someone said it, but things are starting to get out of hand. When students around the university start to say it as if they’re saying Hollywood, California, there’s a problem. Adding “America” doesn’t make it any more glamorous, so why make yourself sound ignorant?

I would dare say people in Hammond, California, or Hammond, Illinois or Hammond, Kentucky would be offended. Those are just some of the Hammonds located in America. If any of them should claim the title “Hammond, America,” I would give it to Hammond, Indiana, the largest U.S. city bearing that name. 

Now that I’ve laid down some facts, I’d like to encourage everyone to proudly declare their love for Hammond, Louisiana. We live in a great state. We attend a great university. Let’s all speak as if we’ve received a proper English education and show some respect to the city we live in. 

I live in Hammond, Louisiana, home of the Southeastern Louisiana University Lions, and I do not believe in calling ourselves “Hammond, America” because we are not the only Hammond out there. We are one of a kind, because being in south Louisiana is what makes us so unique.