Did USC misspell Shakespeare's name on new statue?
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Is it Shakespeare or Shakespear? The University of Southern California is responding to the debate over the spelling of the bard's name on a newly unveiled statue on campus.
USC chose the spelling Shakespear for the statue of Queen Hecuba that includes a quotation from the legendary playwright and poet. The unusual spelling quickly caught the attention of the "The Den," the official student section at UCLA, which tweeted "USC. The only place in America that can unveil a statue as the centerpiece of a $700 million project and manage to misspell Shakespeare.
USC responded in a statement on Tuesday, "To E, or not to E, that is the question. Over the centuries his surname has been spelled 20 different ways. USC chose an older spelling because of the ancient feel of the statue, even though it is not the most common form."
The statue is the centerpiece of the school's new USC Village, a $700 million project that includes restaurants, retail shopping and student housing.
