'Alternate Identity' Would Restore Oldest CSU's Name

"California State University, San Jose"
And "San Jose State" Would Co-Exist

CSU Campus Village, San Jose, California.

In late 2005 CSU activists in San Jose asked both the Associated Students and the statewide California State Students Association for help in restoring a prestigious California State University "alternate identity" at the oldest CSU campus in San Jose. For the second year in a row, activists asked Associated Students to authorize a student vote on a CSU alternate identity in San Jose.

An alternate identity would restore the school's identification as a CSU campus, while retaining the "San Jose State" name, similar to the alternate identities already in place in Fresno & Long Beach.

This would give CSU students and grads in San Jose the freedom to market their CSU degrees under the name of the institution that grants them: the California State University. Many San Jose State students and grads believe they should have the right to market their degrees under the school's CSU identity, and that restoration of this right requires the University to acknowledge and promote its identity as the oldest CSU (1862) campus. CSU activists believe a vote is particuarly warranted since students were not allowed to vote on the 1974 name change that downgraded the school from a major California State University campus to the localized city college "San Jose State University" identity.

In December, CSU activists spoke directly with Associated Students President Alberto Guiterrez and Director of Legislative affairs Rebecca Balderas about having A.S. authorize a student vote on the matter. Last year, the entire A.S. Committee on University Affairs supported such a vote, but the proposed exercise in student democracy was reportedly killed by A.S. President Rachel Greathouse.

This year, Spartans who want the right to maximize the value of their CSU degrees are urged to contact Associated Students to request that A.S. authorize a vote on a CSU alternate identity at San Jose State. This would restore the rights of San Jose students and grads to use the name of the State of California in marketing their degrees and to be recognized as full-fledged CSU students and graduates.

Mr. Guiterrez, Ms. Balderas and other Associated Students executives and directors can be reached via the phone numbers and email address on these web pages:

A.S. Executives      A.S. Board of Directors 

In addition to restoring the rights of CSU students and grads in San Jose, many Spartans believe the restoration of a broader California State Unviersity-oriented identity at the oldest CSU in San Jose will lay the foundation for the development of the school into a more prestigious and well-known residential university. In fact, in an early 2005 straw poll, an overwhelming majority voted for an SJSU name change. This, it is believed, will also help the development of the entire CSU system, which is currently without a namesake founding campus and flagship school to give it a strong national identity.

For more information on this see California State University Restoration Plan for San Jose. To support this goals, please join one of the CSU Supporter groups (see Supporters ) or contact alumni@gostate.org directly.