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Ever wonder about the driving force working behind the scenes to enhance your CU Boulder experience? The people who plan big events such as Homecoming, allocates your student fees to places like the UMC and Environmental Center, and meets with city and state leaders to ensure your needs are on their agendas? 

CU Student Government (CUSG) is the group behind that advocacy and more, using its autonomous position on campus to amplify student voices, address concerns and elevate campus life. CUSG is working for you, and with the spring 2024 elections coming up, you get to pick the people doing that job. That’s why it’s more important than ever to learn about the group and get involved. 

Advocacy for student voices 

CUSG places advocacy at the forefront of its mission, aiming to provide students with a platform to voice their concerns and be actively listened to. With campus constantly evolving with each new class of students, student government works to bridge the gap between student consensus and university policies.  

CUSG does this through event planning, working with administrators, enacting impactful legislation and hosting various programs to improve representation. Student government works to cut through the noise to focus on what matters to you as a student. 

One significant responsibility is managing and allocating the student fees that you pay each semester. The allocations ensure that fees are reinvested in ways that directly benefit you and the whole student body. Some of the initiatives from the past year include Homecoming events, funding for student organizations, and elevating diverse and underrepresented communities with open forums. 

CUSG also sits on various boards to advocate and speak for students, including the CU Police Department Community Oversight and Review Board, Chancellor Search Committee, and Associate Vice Chancellor searches. The student representation ensures the university and governmental bodies make important decisions with the student perspective at the forefront of consideration. 

How CUSG works 

CUSG operates through three branches: the executive branch, legislative branch and judicial branch. 

Executive branch

Typically led by three student-body presidents, known as the tri-executives, and the executive cabinet, the executive branch working to keep the communication lines open with student groups and campus leadership, as well as planning events and directly interfacing with students.

Legislative branch

The Representative Council and Council of Colleges and Schools enact legislation to improve student and campus life.

Judicial branch

The Appellate Court makes sure everything is legitimate, transparent and constitutional. 

Why the spring 2024 election matters 

The spring 2024 elections are going to be pivotal, setting the tone for CU Boulder’s future, since the tri-executive positions and four representatives-at-large seats will be on the ballot. The student leaders that you elect will be your voice in the rooms where decisions are made. They will be the ones advocating for the change that you want to see, and you can elect the individuals that you believe will successfully champion your needs. 

Having a say in a large institution's future may feel impossible, but participating in the spring 2024 elections is your opportunity to do just that. Your vote can actively influence the direction you want to see the university move toward by giving you a chance to have a say in who represents the student body. 

You can make your voice heard by voting, starting on Monday, April 1. Watch for a voting link in your Buff Portal, which will be sent via email, shared online and posted on social media. You can also read about each of the candidates and other ballot measures on the CUSG Elections webpage.