Friday before Spring Break, I received an email from the MSC President’s Office. It was a survey about the name change. Let me rephrase that, it said it was a survey about the name change. In my opinion, it was a one-sided questionnaire that led the survey taker to answer the questions in a specific way. Perhaps it was intentional, but I hope that it wasn’t. I’m sorry Mesa State Administration, but I expected better.

The survey was all of 16 questions long, ten of which had the word “University” in the question. This seems odd to me because the survey was presented as a means to see student opinion about the name change and the change to university status, but only asked a few questions that were really about the name change itself. Most of the questions were about whether students thought a university status would be more beneficial than a college. Questions also seemed to focus on if students thought that changing to a university would mean changing the class sizes or. the teacher to student ratio of the institution. There were no questions about the opinions about the affordability of a university over a college.

This survey has some serious holes in it. It never asked about any of the things that could be listed on the “cons” side of the discussion. No mention of the increased cost of tuition, nor any other concerns people might have. But the fact is that almost everyone, regardless of their concerns is for the change to university status.

The questions about the proposed name change are the ones that are, in my opinion, the controversial part that the administration should be seeking out more input on. The Associated Student Government went through great lengths to hold forums about the name change. About 300 students attended the various forums to give their input. If it had been my decision, I would have tried harder to get more student feedback and tell the student body about the process that was about to begin. I don’t think 300 students out of the nearly 8,000 students enrolled is enough.

I have shared my opinion with ASG as well as the key players running the process about the name change. What many students do not know is that this name change is supposed to be a two-step process. The first step is supposed to be seeking out the answer to the question, “Should Mesa State College change it’s name at all?” The second step is to start discussion about what the name change should be.

Unfortunately, ASG has already voted, “yes” on the first part of that process. ASG has given approval of the name change to the Board of Trustees. They did this with input from about 300 students. In my opinion that is not enough to say, “Yes, the student body gives their approval,” but that was what was done. ASG is not the only entity at fault however, we as students did not seek out a place to give our input. Students did not attend the many forums that were held nor did they seek out the ASG senators to voice their opinions.

I think it was a good thing that the administration decided to seek out input from more students. I can’t help but ask myself if they were honestly trying to seek out the opinions or just back the choice that they have already made. The name change is a popular idea because it would bring more geographical recognition to the school. Many people were surveyed from outside of Colorado, and not many people know where Mesa State is. Most people think it’s in Utah. But knowing where the college is shouldn’t be the administration’s biggest concern. Not only do those people outside of Colorado not know where we are. They don’t know who we are.

Perhaps our administration does not know who we are either. And the survey they sent out did not help them know us, or our true opinions. I believe that the Mesa State Mavericks still have a voice, and still have an opinion. Give them a fair survey so that they can be heard.

cmartine@mesastate.edu