A Colorado Creed plaque

Students Hope 'Creed' Buffs CU's Image

Apr 12, 2005 10:01 am US/Mountain
Students Hope 'Creed' Buffs CU's Image

(CBS4) BOULDER, Colo. Controversy is nothing new to the campus of the University of Colorado. Some students, though, have had enough. Monday, a group of concerned students unveiled a creed to spell out what they think it means to be a "Buff." The school mascot is the Buffalo.

Eight students launched the campaign, aimed at changing campus culture, on the college's historic Norlin Quad. "Today's a proud day for the University of Colorado," said Sarah Miller, a CU junior.

The creed states: "I agree to ... act with honor, integrity and accountability ... " With balloons, a ribbon cutting, and I love CU buttons, the small group unveiled the "Colorado creed." "Its more then just words," Miller said. "Its spirit and heart of the university."

The creed is a code of conduct set in stone -- literally -- with principles such as "Integrity" chiseled in sidewalk slabs. The creed itself is engraved on plaques and will be placed in dorms and other gathering places around campus.

"This is something by CU students for CU students," Miller said. "This is who we are." As students walk across campus, the hope is they'll look down and see flagstone with the word "integrity," "honor," "respect," "accountability," and put those words into action.

"Really, what we're hoping is people will just start to care for each other," one student said. And to also care about the university they represent. "We just want people to remember the actions they take have consequences and reflect on everyone around the university," Miller said.

Ultimately, these students hope to reflect CU in a different light; to change negative perceptions from the outside. "It's reminding everyone that's what CU is," she said. The goal is to compel change on the inside, student-to-student, step-by-step.