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May 3, 2004

Campus asks: What’s our name?

Vote online

What’s in a name? A little confusion when it comes to California State University, Sacramento.

Routinely media, alumni, students and members of the community use six or seven variations when they refer to campus. So the University is reaching out to solve the dilemma by asking people to vote on their favorite everyday name.

The University is undertaking an opinion survey over the summer. To vote, log onto www.csus.edu/name. Options not listed can be sent to infodesk@csus.edu.

The campus is also seeking input through other means. Faculty and staff can use a ballot that is printed in the campus employee newspaper, the CSUS Bulletin. Students will be randomly selected to choose among the top four contenders during registration. In addition to the website, community input will be sought at events such as the Olympic Trials and commencement.

Currently, inquiries about the appropriate use of the campus name are frequent, but the answer is complicated.

“California State University, Sacramento” is the official name and is currently always used on first or formal references. It’s common practice on second reference to use “CSUS,” or “Sac State” as an affectionate nickname. The use of “Sacramento State” was approved in 2000 for use by and in reference to Intercollegiate Athletics, but not for the general campus. Other variations also crop up from time to time such as “CSU Sacramento,” “Cal State Sacramento” and the “Capital University.”

A campus committee will use the results of the survey to decide on an everyday name in the fall.

Media assistance and ballots for media publication are available by contacting the University’s public affairs office at (916) 278-6156.

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