Renaming & Community Response Information Hub
Current Phase: Recommendation Development
The Renaming Ad Hoc Committee is now reviewing community input from the survey, Town Halls and written comments as it develops a recommendation for the Student Center’s future name. No final recommendation has been made.
On March 18th, 2026, the Associated Students Board of Directors issued the Statement Acknowledging Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against César Chávez. AS is now actively pursuing the renaming of the Student Center and reviewing how references to César Chávez appear within AS-operated spaces and communications.
This page serves as the central source for information about the process.
What We Heard
Community Input on the Student Center Renaming
AS collected feedback through a community survey, Town Halls, and written comments to inform the Student Center Renaming Ad Hoc Committee’s work.
Community input informs the committee’s deliberations. It is not a vote to determine the Student Center’s name.
Who Participated in the Survey?
Survey participation was voluntary and self-selected; findings are not representative of the entire SF State population.
What Did Survey Respondents Select?
Explore responses to the survey’s three questions.
"Which theme do you prefer for the Student Center renaming?"
Respondents selected from three proposed historical themes or an ‘Other/write-in’ option.
Survey participation was voluntary and self-selected; findings are not representative of the entire SF State population. The Other/write-in category includes a range of responses, such as specific individuals, additional movements, community values, and other naming ideas. It does not represent a single shared naming preference.
How did selections differ by affiliation?
Explore the breakdown for current students, faculty and staff, alumni, and community members. Percentages are calculated within each respondent affiliation group, not the entire SF State population.
| Affiliation | Third World Liberation Front | Farmworkers Movement | Occupation of Alcatraz | Other / write-in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Current students |
39.0% |
29.3% |
13.9% |
17.8% |
|
Faculty & staff |
24.9% |
33.9% |
14.1% |
27.0% |
|
Community members |
72.1% |
6.6% |
0.4% |
20.8% |
|
Alumni |
56.4% |
14.9% |
5.1% |
23.6% |
"Are you in favor of the Student Center being named after an individual person?"
Responses to the survey question, shown by affiliation.
| Affiliation | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
|
Current students |
509 (52.8%) |
455 (47.2%) |
|
Faculty & staff |
119 (35.7%) |
214 (64.3%) |
|
Community members |
220 (97.3%) |
6 (2.7%) |
|
Alumni |
148 (75.9%) |
47 (24.1%) |
|
All respondents |
996 (58.0%) |
722 (42.0%) |
Percentages reflect responses within each group. This question asked about naming the building after an individual, not about selecting a specific person.
"If you have a specific name suggestion (theme related, individual person, etc.), please write it below."
Respondents suggested individuals, historical movements, student-centered names, and other ideas reflecting community identity and values.
Individuals & Personal Legacies
Names recognizing specific people and their contributions.
Movements & Collective Histories
Names honoring collective organizing, activism, and historical movements.
Student & Campus Identity
Names reflecting student life, the building’s purpose, and SF State identity.
Indigenous Land & Heritage
Names referencing Indigenous peoples, histories, and languages.
Culture & Place
Names connected to cultural identities, local communities, & geography.
Shared Values & Ideals
Names expressing community aspirations, principles, and values.
Categories describe the types of suggestions received, not their frequency or level of support. Some responses included ideas spanning multiple categories.
What Did We Hear at the Town Halls?
During four Town Hall sessions on October 6–7 and through written comments, community members shared naming ideas, historical perspectives, and considerations. These summaries reflect perspectives raised, not ranked preferences or measures of overall support.
Some participants proposed honoring individual activists, while others favored recognizing collective movements. Both approaches reflected perspectives on how to acknowledge organizing and social change.
Participants emphasized recognizing SF State's history of activism and the contributions of communities connected to the campus, including labor movements, Indigenous histories, and cultural identities.
Some raised concerns about future controversy or harm associated with individual names. Others viewed individual naming as an opportunity to honor people whose contributions reflect community values.
Suggestions also reflected the building's role as a shared student space, including names connected to campus identity, student life, and community gathering.
Participants raised questions about preserving the mural's cultural and historical significance. The mural and building renaming are being addressed through separate processes.
About these findings: Survey results reflect selections and suggestions from voluntary respondents. Town Hall comments provide additional perspectives and context. Neither represents a binding vote or determines the committee’s recommendation.
How Community Input Is Being Considered
The Renaming Ad Hoc Committee considers community feedback alongside additional factors as it develops its recommendation.
Community Input
Survey responses, Town Hall feedback, and written comments
Additional Considerations
Historical context, consultation, governance, and feasibility
Committee Review & Deliberation
Members evaluate the information and develop a collective recommendation.
Formal Recommendation & Approvals
The recommendation proceeds through the required review and approval process.
No single survey result or naming suggestion determines the recommendation. This diagram illustrates the process, not a fixed weighting of considerations.
What's Happening?
✓ Removal of the César Chávez name from AS marketing materials & website
✓ Temporary coverage of the building name where feasible
✓ Evaluation of references to César Chávez within AS-managed spaces
✓ Development of a formal renaming proposal
✓ Community survey conducted Aug. 17-Sept. 25
✓ Town Halls held Oct. 6-7. View the presentation.
✓ The Ad Hoc Committee is reviewing survey responses, Town Hall feedback and written comments
✓ The Committee is developing its renaming recommendation
How Does Renaming Actually Work?
SFSU is part of the California State University system; renaming the building requires review and approval through established university and CSU governance processes.
- Associated Students establishes an AdHoc Committee comprised of elected student government representatives & student org representatives.
Student & community feedback is gathered through canvassing, community forums, surveys & town halls.
The AdHoc committee prepares a proposal.
SFSU President reviews the proposal.
The proposal is submitted for final determination by the CSU Board of Trustees.
Timeline
- AS Board of Directors approved public statement
- Ad Hoc Committee created
- Ad Hoc Committee membership approved
- Strategy & action plan development
- Student & community engagement
- Community input review
- Renaming recommendation development
- Target proposal approval & submission
- University/CSU review process begins
- University & CSU review continues
- Target CSU Board of Trustees consideration
- Action plan implementation, pending approvals
Timeline
FAQ
Community input was collected through the Student Center Renaming Survey, public Town Halls and written comments.
The Ad Hoc Committee is reviewing the feedback as it develops its renaming recommendation, which will then move through the required AS, University and CSU review processes.
Renaming the building requires review and approval through established university and California State University processes, which take time. Associated Students is actively working through those steps as quickly and thoughtfully as possible.
The Student Center Renaming Ad Hoc Committee was established by the Associated Students Board of Directors to gather student and community feedback and develop a recommendation for a new name for the Student Center.
Read the full Student Center Renaming Ad Hoc Committee Charter →
The committee brings together elected student representatives, an Ethnic Studies representative, representatives from Legacy Organizations housed in the Student Center, faculty, alumni/community representation, and advisory representatives from Associated Students and the University.
View the committee's full composition in the Ad Hoc Committee Charter →
The Ad Hoc Committee gathers and considers community feedback, develops a recommendation, and brings that recommendation forward through the formal approval process; the committee does not make the final decision to rename the building.
The final decision to rename the building rests with the California State University Board of Trustees. Associated Students is responsible for developing and advancing a recommendation through the appropriate university processes.
Associated Students has begun removing the César Chávez name from materials within our control while the formal renaming process is underway. Some locations and materials require additional approvals or coordination and will be updated over time.
You can read the Associated Students Board of Directors' March 18, 2026 statement here.
If you have a question that isn't addressed on this page, please contact us at renaming@asi.sfsu.edu. We'll do our best to respond and update this page with additional information as appropriate.
What Information Will Be Shared?
Associated Students is committed to sharing:
Major process milestones
Student engagement opportunities
Estimated project costs when available
Final decisions and implementation plans
Stay Updated
Updates on the SFSU Student Center Renaming Ad Hoc Committee’s recommendation and next steps will be posted to this page as the process moves forward.
Contact Us
Questions that are not addressed on this page may be sent to: renaming@asi.sfsu.edu.
Last Updated: October 2026.
