The "Colorado Creed," a student initiative to reflect pride and honor in the University of Colorado at Boulder community, will be formally presented April 11 at an unveiling ceremony.
Student organizers will be joined by CU-Boulder Chancellor Phil DiStefano and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Ron Stump in a 1 p.m. ceremony on the south side of Old Main on the CU-Boulder campus.
The Creed serves as a statement of social responsibility, and reads: "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."
The Creed also incorporates seven guiding principles: Act, Honor, Have Integrity, Respect, Accept, Contribute and Be Accountable.
Beau Beckley, a sophomore business major and member of the student committee that developed the creed, explained that it is a lifestyle statement, different from the academic Honor Code. "The Honor Code addresses academic honesty, while the Colorado Creed addresses integrity and responsibility as a member of the university community," Beckley said. "It speaks to the issues surrounding daily life on campus."
The Creed will be incorporated into the campus in a number of ways. Brass building plaques will be installed at key locations including Norlin Library, the University Memorial Center and residence halls. Embossed flagstone sidewalk slabs will be installed in high-traffic areas and each will highlight one of the seven guiding principles. The Creed will be addressed at orientations and convocations, and published in campus literature.
"The idea for the Creed began with student frustration over a series of unscientific national rankings in fall 2003 that portrayed CU-Boulder as a party school," said Jason Griffith, a freshman political science and theater major. "We formed a committee and began developing the Creed in spring 2004 to encourage students to consider the consequences of their actions, as well as demonstrate that this university deserves positive recognition."
Beckley said recent events on campus and coverage in the media have renewed frustration among many students. "It's troubling when none of the positive things make the spotlight. We are tired of being looked upon in a negative light. The Creed reflects the true meaning of being a CU student - we are family, and we look out for each other here. The Creed shows how we are accountable for our actions, how we honor each other's differences and how we have integrity in our school," Beckley said.
The Colorado Creed has been endorsed by the Chancellor's Executive Committee, the board of the Parents Association and a variety of faculty, staff and student groups on campus.
The student committee that created the Colorado Creed includes Beckley and Griffith along with juniors Alicia Anderson, Sarah Miller and Molly McKellar, and seniors Chris Deardorff and Jeremy Durham.
Organizers are seeking support for the Creed from students, area retailers and alumni. More information is available online at or by calling (303) 735-2385.