Why "Of the People"?

[question]

Hello everyone,
There's one thing I don't understand about this online school. Why is it called "of the people"? 
It doesn't seem to belong to the people, if you ask me.

[SteveFoerster]

Because their target market is people in lower income countries, where that sort of name is unremarkable.

[Tomas]

It is a reference to Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, "government of the people, by the people, and for the people" etc.

[Captainrekt000]

"University for the People" and "University by the People" were slightly worse than "University of the People."

If they were People University, their acronym would be "PU"

"Go PU!"

[bjcheung77]

https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid440305
https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid440308

[question]

It is a reference to Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, "government of the people, by the people, and for the people" etc.

LOL Is this a joke?
Their website doesn't state this is the real reason.

Because their target market is people in lower income countries, where that sort of name is unremarkable.

This is a bit more probable. However, I find it weird that a university claiming to be a non-profit organization helping humanity has a target market. "Target market" is a concept more appropriate for a corporation's marketing strategy. Unless… the University of the people itself is a corporation, despite claiming to be a charitable organization.

[davewill]

Because their target market is people in lower income countries, where that sort of name is unremarkable.

This is a bit more probable. However, I find it weird that a university claiming to be a non-profit organization helping humanity has a target market. "Target market" is a concept more appropriate for a corporation's marketing strategy. Unless… the University of the people itself is a corporation, despite claiming to be a charitable organization.

Even charitable organizations have target markets, both the people they intend to serve, and the people they intend to solicit contributions from. You can replace the word "market" with "audience" or "population" if you like, but it's really all the same thing. You have to appeal to folks to get them to participate.

[SteveFoerster]

It is a reference to Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, "government of the people, by the people, and for the people" etc.

LOL Is this a joke?
Their website doesn't state this is the real reason.

You quoted me as saying that was the reason, but that was someone else.

Because their target market is people in lower income countries, where that sort of name is unremarkable.

This is a bit more probable. However, I find it weird that a university claiming to be a non-profit organization helping humanity has a target market. "Target market" is a concept more appropriate for a corporation's marketing strategy. Unless… the University of the people itself is a corporation, despite claiming to be a charitable organization.

Well, "target market" was my term, but the concept is the same regardless of what tax status a school has. Very few institutions are really well suited to serve everyone, so it makes sense to focus where they're strong.

By the way, all registered charities are corporations. The word doesn't necessarily include the sort of baggage that I think you're assigning it.

[Ares]

Founder is probably a Marxist. It is by far the worst name of any University.

[question]

You quoted me as saying that was the reason, but that was someone else.

yes sorry I was referring to the other user. It's unclear where "Abraham Lincoln" comes into this.

By the way, all registered charities are corporations. The word doesn't necessarily include the sort of baggage that I think you're assigning it.

Technically you're right.

My point is: this online school heavily advertises itself by talking about "the people", "charity initiatives", "helping the Third World" etc. but by now I've come to believe it's just a big marketing ploy.

---

Founder is probably a Marxist. It is by far the worst name of any University.

I have to say that there are many unconvincing or odd aspects of this organization, and the name is certainly one of the most striking in the first place.

Does it have a different target market than the American one? Who knows, maybe it does, but at the same time, the organization puts a lot of emphasis on being American
(although it's not clear whether it truly is, given that it only has a PO box in the US and no headquarters)