A Colorado Creed plaque

Colorado Creed Hopes to be Welcomed with Arms Wide Open

By Glenn Tyson | Wednesday April 6, 2005 | Boulder Dirt

When the Princeton Review declared CU the nation's top party school in 2003, some students reveled in the recognition, even bragging of the "honor" by sporting T-shirts that advertised the accomplishment. But not all were drunk with excitement from being tagged with a distinction they felt did not accurately represent their CU experience.

The frustration caused by both the "party-school" label and the slew of negative publicity that CU has experienced since, including the football recruiting scandal, inspired students to fight back. The creators of the "Colorado Creed," which is designed to serve as a statement of social responsibility, hope it will take CU's dignity higher, perhaps to a place where blind men see.

The seven guiding principles of the creed:

Act, Honor, Have Integrity, Respect, Accept, Contribute, Be Accountable.

"I was really frustrated by how the media had been portraying CU," said CU junior Sarah Miller, a member of the Colorado Creed Committee and campus tour-guide. "I wanted to restore CU's image."

The creed will be formally unveiled at a ceremony outside of Old Main at 1 p.m. on Monday. The members of the CCC will be joined by CU Chancellor Phil DiStefano and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Ron Stump.

Stump can be credited with bringing together the students that would eventually form the committee.

"It started in May of 2004," said sophomore Beau Beckley. Beckley went to Stump because he was tired of the bad publicity and negative images of the school.

Stump put Beckley in touch with other students who shared his sentiments. They formed "Debunking the Myth," with the purpose of disproving the claims of the Princeton Review. In time, the "Debunking" crew expanded and morphed into the Colorado Creed Committee.

The Colorado Creed (a cover band? You'll almost wish it was)

As a member of the Boulder community and the University of Colorado, I agree to: act with honor, integrity and accountability in my interactions with students, faculty, staff and neighbors; respect the rights of others and accept their differences; contribute to the greater good of this community. I will strive to uphold these principles in all aspects of my collegiate experience and beyond.

CU freshman and CCC member Jason Griffith said that by the end of the summer, 14 embossed flagstone sidewalk slabs, each highlighting one of the seven guiding principles of the creed, will be strategically installed in high-traffic areas around campus. In addition, seven brass plaques featuring the creed will be installed at buildings such as the UMC and Norlin Library. Initial funding is being provided by the Chancellor's Executive Committee.

CCC members want other students to know that they are not trying to define what it means to be a CU student or Boulder resident.

"I don't think it is about having the power to define what it is to be a CU-Boulder resident, it's more about putting into writing ideas that are already out there," said Griffith.

"Because (the Colorado Creed Committee) wasn't appointed, it gives us more validity because administration didn't force us," said Miller, "So hopefully students will be more receptive."

Unfortunately for Miller and other CCC members, not all students are thrilled with the idea of the creed.

"I feel that it is a very superficial, cosmetic thing," said CU graduate student Tyler Preston. "People are gonna live how they want to live, most people already have a set of morals that the creed mentions."