It’s a sign – CU students react to zodiac change

(CU Independent illustration/Kelly Kaoudis)

The pick-up line “what’s your sign?” just got a lot more complicated.

Over the past couple of weeks, blogs and tweets have been abuzz about Ophiuchus, the “new” Zodiac sign that may throw everything off.

The change occurred earlier this month, when the Minnesota Planetarium Society said that due to the shift of the Earth over thousands of years, the star signs that we align to may be incorrect. To adjust to that, the society added Ophiuchus, the snake holder, who falls between Nov. 29th and Dec. 17th.

Despite the frenzy that may be occurring online, however, many CU students said they are not worried about the change. Anna Balzer, a 21-year-old junior environmental studies major, who was born an Aries but is now a Pisces, said she still associates herself with her old sign.

“When I was born, I was an Aries, so I don’t think that should randomly change one day,” Balzer said.

The intention of staying the same may be rightly so, considering that this change might not even exist. An article published by CNN debunks the news, saying that it applies to the sidereal zodiac, which is not usually followed in western culture, which instead follows the tropical zodiac.

A section of the article reads “If you considered yourself a Cancer under the tropical zodiac last week, you’re still a Cancer under the same zodiac this week.”

Some CU students have simply become frustrated with the event. Although he said he does not follow astrology, 19-year-old sophomore and civil engineering major, Trevor Sweet, said he did not approve of the abrupt change.

“This seems like bull to me,” Sweet said, who went from being a Gemini to a Taurus. “How can they just decide one day to change around the entire zodiac?”

Still, it seems as though apathy is the most present emotion when it comes to the change. Annie Frazier, a 20-year-old sophomore biology major, said she did not see what the fuss was all about.

“I don’t get what all the hubbub is about, it’s only a zodiac sign,” Frazier said, adding that the new change had no actual effect on her astrological sign.

Whether or not the zodiac has changed still lacks an unclear answer. The real question students should be asking, however, is if they really care.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Matt Glassett at Matthew.glassett@colorado.edu.