About 300 people have taken part in a protest over a new name the Georgia Regents have approved for Augusta State University.

The protest at noon Monday at Doug Barnard Amphitheatre came on the first day of the fall semester at the university.

The Georgia Regents on Aug. 7 announced the name would be changed to Georgia Regents University. The name change prompted formation of a Facebook page by alumni opposed to the name change. The page is named "Everyone against Georgia Regents University sound off."

At Monday's protest Augusta Mayor Joe Bowles said people don't understand the meaning of the new name. He asked the crowd what "is a GRU?"

Tags: Augusta State University, Georgia Regents, Protest, Georgia Regents University, Augusta Mayor Joe Bowles