![The Columbine Cafe' File photo](https://csupueblotoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/columbine-cafe-300x200.jpg)
File photo
CSU-Pueblo’s Columbine Cafeteria will soon be known by a new, ThunderWolf-inspired name: the PackCafe’.
The Columbine, which is the main dining hall on campus, is located in the Occhiato University Center and serves hundreds of students and faculty each day.
Following the school shooting at Columbine High School in 1999, management of the cafeteria, which was named for the Colorado state flower, has entertained the possibility of a name change. In recent years, the Dining Services Advisory Committee has received feedback from students and parents who felt the name “Columbine” carried too many negative connotations.
Since the OUC is scheduled to start renovations next year, the DSAC and the CSU-Pueblo Associated Students’ Government decided the time had come to reach out to students for name suggestions.
ASG President Timothy Zercher said ASG members were excited to be a part of the process.
“The DSAC recognized the need for a name change, and the ASG coordinated the search and voting,” Zercher said.
The ASG initiated the re-naming contest and solicited possible names through social media as soon as students returned to campus for the fall semester. Voting began on Sept.3 with an online survey and also at the Chartwells campus food fair where students could sample items and cast their vote in person.
The Wolf Den, Wolfie’s Den and the Munch Hall were some of the suggestions that made the final list.
Voting was coordinated by ASG Director of Student Affairs Freddy Correamanrique who verified each vote by PID number to ensure there were no duplicates.
PackCafe’ was the winning entry, but the student who submitted the idea did not leave a name. Zercher is hoping the winner will step forward after hearing the results of the vote.
“We need them to come collect their prize,” Zercher said. “They didn’t leave their name, so we don’t actually know who won yet.”
Although there were only 100 votes tallied, the contest succeeded in giving students a voice regarding changes and issues on campus.
The re-branding of the café is the first of many student opinion polls the ASG plans to conduct this year. Zercher said he wants the student voice really to be heard, and he hopes participation will increase as more people on campus take advantage of the forum provided by student government.