A recent proposal that would have renamed the Economics building after Yuma-born farm labor organizer Cesar Chavez was met with support, but not approval, last week in its first steps toward a name change.

Antonio Estrada, director of the Mexican American Studies and Research Center and Socorro Carrizosa, director of the UA Chicano/Hispano Student Affairs, sent the proposal to President Pete Likins and the Naming Advisory Committee Thursday. However, it failed to meet a part of the naming procedure that requires results showing support from occupants of the facility under consideration, said Wanda Howell, head of the naming committee.

"There was certainly a rationale for wanting the name change, but they didn't provide enough of a consistency to merit it at this point," said Howell, "We had people in my subcommittee, who have offices in the building, who said they hadn't heard anything about it before now."

Howell said the committee supported the proposed name change, and that the decision to not approve it was merely procedural.

"We are favorable of the concept, but the submitted material is insufficient at this time," Howell said.

Once passed by the committee, a name change would require approval from University President Pete Likins, who said that he would undoubtedly support the move.

"I think it would be a good statement by the university to recognize the work of Cesar Chavez. He was an advocate of peaceful change, and I would have no problem with it," Likins said.

The plans to rename the Economics building after Chavez were in the works for more than a year, said Estrada, whose department resides in the Economics building.

Estrada and Carrizosa began to push hard for the name change in the last two weeks, as the anniversary of Chavez' death neared.

"We have such a vibrant Hispanic community on campus," Estrada said. "We foresee a place on campus where Hispanic students can go that is designated after a Hispanic leader, and they can feel comfortable going there."

Estrada said the university's association with Chavez could help attract members of the Hispanic community to the campus.

"I think it will be great for promoting diversity and for Focused Excellence," Estrada said. "Its time has come."

The building is also home to the department of agricultural and resource economics and the Mexican American Studies and Research Center.

A few students who frequent the building said they support the change and would feel honored to work in a building bearing Chavez's name.

"I think it's a good idea," said Mexican-American studies and political science senior Inez Duarte at a recent farm worker's rights protest. "He was about education, non-violence and unity, so it's an appropriate name for what goes on in the building."

The criteria for naming a building is often based on major financial contributions, according to university policy. However, non-donors are considered when the individual has made other exceptional contributions to the welfare of the university or the community in general.

Likins and Estrada both agreed that Chavez legacy would meet such a requirement.

The Martin Luther King Jr. building is the only campus building currently named for an individual who was not in some way connected to the university.