UCSwho? CU-Boulder student government may change name

Spurred by last fall's abysmal election turnout, the University of Colorado Student Union is considering a slight name change -- along with increased advertising -- to help boost campus awareness and participation in student government.

One of the options UCSU leaders are considering is to replace the word "union" in the organization's name with "government," which would result in the new acronym UCSG. While not a drastic change, student leaders said it might be enough to help CU students better recognize the organization and its function.

"We want to be more direct," Tri-Executive Daniel Ramos said of the proposed change. "When students hear 'union,' they generally think of a building, like the UMC. So changing it to 'government' would just clarify who we are and make us more recognizable to students."

CU's student government is one of the largest in the country, with a $36 million annual budget -- comprised of student fees and other revenue -- that funds the University Memorial Center, the CU Recreation Center and the Wardenburg Health Center, among other campus facilities.

Yet despite UCSU's budget and impact on university social activities, students long have been disinterested in student government, as evidenced by dismal voter turnout in recent years. Last fall, just 951 of the campus' 30,000 students cast ballots.

Monday, several students queried in the UMC said they didn't know what UCSU stands for, or what its purpose is. Bailey Moiers, a senior, said a name change might create more student awareness.

"Government implies authority," Moiers said. "Adding that to the name could signify that the organization has power and influence and maybe students would take notice."

But others said it will take more than a modified title to stir students' curiosity.

"I've never voted," senior David Michalak said. "I don't know anything about student government nor do I care to. Adding 'government' into the title just makes me think they're all talk and no action."

The history of CU's student government is a bit murky, with UCSU members saying they're unsure exactly when the organization started. Megen Princehouse, UCSU's administrative assistant and a university staff member since 1987, said she believes CU's student government likely was founded with the university's opening in 1877 and probably has changed its name only twice since then.

Most recently, CU's student government changed its name in 1973 from Associated Students of the University of Colorado -- or ASUC -- to its current moniker, which has remained for the past 37 years, according to "Glory Colorado: The History of the University of Colorado."

CU's student leaders will discuss the name change at a meeting Thursday night and, should they decide to proceed, hope to have a bill through the student Legislative Council by March 1.

In addition to the possible name change, CU's student leaders also plan to increase advertising for the spring elections -- set for April 5 through 9 -- by placing banners and fliers around campus to create more buzz.

Ramos and election commissioner Alex Schnell said fostering awareness among students has been a primary goal of UCSU this semester after members decided recent election turnouts were unacceptable.

The Legislative Council recently passed nine bills in hopes of improving competition and student interest in upcoming elections, adopting measures to increase the time potential candidates have to complete applications, and creating a presidential position within the existing tri-executive system.