Armstrong State University is leaving behind a reminder of its past with a new historical marker at Georgia Southern University.University officials say the historical marker is to remind students of Armstrong State University's beginnings, all the way to its merger with Georgia Southern University in 2017.The Georgia Historical Society unveiled the marker at the quad fountain behind Burnett Hall on Georgia Southern Armstrong campus in Savannah."It's a great opportunity to not just look back and celebrate, which were doing today, the people who founded this institution, that made this happen, at Armstrong and the marker, but also look forward with programs coming here to Armstrong," said Dr. Kyle Marrero, president of Georgia Southern University.The marker describes Armstrong State University's involvement with the growth of Savannah and other historical moments, like former Savannah Mayor Dr. Otis Johnson becoming the first African-American to attend Armstrong."If we don't grow, we'll die. So the merger of these two schools brings in a new era and new possibility of growth for this region," said Johnson. The Georgia Board of Regents says it combined the two universities to better serve the students of southeast Georgia.But since the merger, not everyone is happy with the decision.Groups like Un-Merge My University, along with many alumni at both institutions against the merger, say the schools should go back to being independent state universities.Un-Merge My University even launched a website citing many problems with the merger…like low enrollment and distances between the campuses being too far. The group claims the local choice of a school in Savannah has been greatly reduced since the merger, saying the people of Savannah need a locally administrated institution, with much of the university's administration offices currently in Statesboro.Asking for support from the community and state leaders, Un-Merge says combining both universities takes away from Armstrong's "strong ties to Savannah" and lasting relationships with the community.But Marrero says the long-term plan to merge the universities will work out for the better."What I can promise them is that we're moving forward with our strategic plan and they're gonna see very next year-- where programs that will be enliven, adding to our cohort in nursing, partnering with local nonprofits - they're gonna see that elevation and say, 'Oh, this makes sense! I see the value in it and i see my part in it," said Marrero.Marrero also says having both universities so far away gives students a choice to attend a university in historic Savannah or a bigger university in a rural community like Statesboro.WJCL reached out to Un-Merge My University for comment but we have not yet heard back.The historical marker at Georgia Southern was made possible by the Georgia Historical Society, the Waters Foundation and the Georgia Southern University Foundation.