ASG leaders helps coordinate new statewide coalition

PUEBLO – Later this month, student leaders from Colorado’s four-year higher education institutions will gather to ratify a constitution for the statewide Colorado Student Government Coalition (CSGC).

Nearly a year in the works, the Coalition seeks to give a united voice to the students of all four- year public institutions throughout Colorado and to give students a way to create political and  social change when and where necessary, said Timothy Zercher, president of Associated Students Government at CSU-Pueblo, who reignited the group this summer after communication had waned. He has been coordinating the proposed group along with Fort Lewis Student President Scot Greenler and Metropolitan State University of Denver Student President Patricia Ordaz.

The proposed preamble of the Constitution clearly defines the mission, “We the undersigned representatives of public four-year institutions of higher education within Colorado have established and ordained this Constitution of the Colorado Student Government Coalition to represent the students of Colorado institutions through voicing the concerns and sentiments of its constituency especially through political advocacy. The CSGC will strive to effect the continued efficacy and meaningful change on behalf of its constituents and higher education as a whole."

Zercher said email among the student leaders has increased dramatically since the start of the fall semester and plans are nearly complete for a summit Oct. 25-26 at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Zercher believes this may be the first coalition of its kind in Colorado, and he anticipates that the organization could be a powerful force for positive change. Topics to be addressed by the student leaders at this month’s summit will include increased funding for higher education institutions in Colorado, sexual assault prevention on campuses, CSGC constitution, bylaws and the election of  officers, as well as a strategic plan for the coming year.

“I believe that I speak for all the student presidents of the four-year universities in Colorado when I say that we are excited about the possible impact this coalition could have on our state,” said Zercher. “Often state legislators attempt to act in the best interest of students of Colorado, but until now they did not have a cohesive voice on what students really need or want from them.  We hope that CSGC will be able to provide that information.”​