We are writing to express our disappointment with the choice of "Colorado Mesa University" as a new name for Mesa State College. For one or more of the reasons below, we feel that the Board of Trustees has made a mistake in its eagerness to rebrand and grow the College. 

To many, the name sounds awkward and rootless, reminiscient of for-profit internet schools and regional colleges whose names dishonestly over-aspire and thus lack credibility. It rings like a focus-tested, vaccuous marketing decision in the ears of alumni and community members. 

The name abandons the heritage of Mesa State College, and is too different to reasonably be expected to benefit from the name recognition established by MSC alumni over the past two decades. It also neglects the esteemed Colorado and Western tradition of state college and state university titles. 

Many stakeholders are angered by the Board's decision to disregard the wishes of those surveyed about the name change. Colorado Mesa placed fourth in the survey conducted by the College. Proponents of the new name contest that the three preferred options did not fit the Board's criteria or were legally impossible. How this should justify the choice of an unpopular name is lost on us. 

We strongly urge our local representatives, Legislature and Governor to: Fully consider the enduring implications of so radical a name change without broad-based alumni, student and community support; review the quantity and quality of community comments opposed to the name change on our local news websites; and to stand with the alumni of Mesa State College and residents of Grand Junction in encouraging the Board of Trustees to undertake more serious and transparent community consultation as regards this important action.