From: DU Clarion Student Newspaper
by Lindsay LaRocque
Chancellor Robert Coombe may comment tomorrow on whether or not Boone, the retired mascot for the University of Denver, will be retired indefinitely.
AUSA Senate discussed the controversy that developed about the cartoon character at the senate meeting last Tuesday.
The conversation began with Senate President, Monica Kumar announcing an upcoming statement will be made by the chancellor.
"October 1 will be the upper level meeting in which the Chancellor may come out with never bringing [Boone] back as the official mascot," Kumar stated. "From their perspective, there's no way to resolve this."
Senate members are divided with one side feeling that there will be a marginalized portion of students who find Boone to be offensive.
The other side feels that the senate need to push for what the majority of the student body.
Arts and Humanities Social Sciences Senator Tess Cromer said, "Whatever the circumstances, if there is a group which feels marginalized, we as a Senate cannot support such an initiative."
On the other side of the issue was President Pro-Tem, Junior Javi Ogaz.
"We need to be attuned to what people feel is offensive and what the majority wants," Ogaz stated. "To function as a Senate, we need to reconcile with the entire student body. We must do something for the good of the school and the community."
A student-led initiative to bring Boone back as the mascot for the University of Denver has been in progress for years.
Students manufactured t-shirts, stickers and pins with the cartoon plastered on them.
This initiative resulted with Boone's image being incorporated in the school year planners that are distributed to students. These planners were recalled & destroyed at the start of the year.
On the social networking Website Facebook, there are pages made by DU students solely dedicated on bringing Boone back to campus.
Students leave comments on the pages like "Has anyone ever heard of history?," "We have to cherish ours," "BRING BOONE BACK," and have posted videos in which students are asking where Boone is.
Despite the majority of students wanting Boone back, there is still the voice of those who do not.
On the same networking site, students against Boone are stating that he should not be allowed back because he is a "symbol of racism, genocide and oppression."
This is referring to the reason why Boone was retired in 1999.
It is believed that Boone, who was created by Walt Disney, represents the historical figure Daniel Boone, a man who led other pioneers to massacre Native Americans in their quest to settle the continent.
Many areas around campus have stopped the movement to bring back Boone.
"From an athletic perspective, all the athletes have dropped the idea of Boone completely," said Chair of Intercollegiate Athletics, Dani Espinosa.
Peg Bradley-Doppes, vice chancellor of athletics, said that the Chancellor has always been clear the Boone will never be an official mascot at DU.
"The university has a moral responsibility to do what's right," she said.
Bradley-Doppes is also co-chair of the History and Traditions Task Force.
The group was convened last October to "examine and celebrate our [DU's] rich history and traditions and try and create more of a campus culture," she said.
Part of the task force's charge was to look at Boone and gather the public's opinion of him as a mascot.
Currently, no decision will be made by the task force regarding Boone until more discussions take place, Bradley-Doppes said.
She was involved, however, in the decision to print this year's planners as the original design featured Boone on almost every page.
"There was some heightened sensitivity because we were made aware that Boone might be offensive to individuals on our campus," she said of the decision to reprint the planners without Boone's image.
New planners will be available near the end of the quarter.
With the AUSA Senate as the representatives for the entire student body, it will fall upon them to further a mascot search because they feel that the students on campus are just not happy with the current mascot, Ruckus, the red tail hawk.
"Boone is gone for all student purposes, but we as a Senate can dialogue about a new mascot," Kumar said.
So what's the next step for Senate and Boone, other than waiting for the chancellor's official statement?
Senate advisor Carl Johnson, who is also the director of student programs and Greek Life, said, "We need to hear from all students, groups and administrators. We need to get educated about all their perspectives."
AUSA Senate discussed the controversy that developed about the cartoon character at the senate meeting last Tuesday.
The conversation began with Senate President, Monica Kumar announcing an upcoming statement will be made by the chancellor.
"October 1 will be the upper level meeting in which the Chancellor may come out with never bringing [Boone] back as the official mascot," Kumar stated. "From their perspective, there's no way to resolve this."
Senate members are divided with one side feeling that there will be a marginalized portion of students who find Boone to be offensive.
The other side feels that the senate need to push for what the majority of the student body.
Arts and Humanities Social Sciences Senator Tess Cromer said, "Whatever the circumstances, if there is a group which feels marginalized, we as a Senate cannot support such an initiative."
On the other side of the issue was President Pro-Tem, Junior Javi Ogaz.
"We need to be attuned to what people feel is offensive and what the majority wants," Ogaz stated. "To function as a Senate, we need to reconcile with the entire student body. We must do something for the good of the school and the community."
A student-led initiative to bring Boone back as the mascot for the University of Denver has been in progress for years.
Students manufactured t-shirts, stickers and pins with the cartoon plastered on them.
This initiative resulted with Boone's image being incorporated in the school year planners that are distributed to students. These planners were recalled & destroyed at the start of the year.
On the social networking Website Facebook, there are pages made by DU students solely dedicated on bringing Boone back to campus.
Students leave comments on the pages like "Has anyone ever heard of history?," "We have to cherish ours," "BRING BOONE BACK," and have posted videos in which students are asking where Boone is.
Despite the majority of students wanting Boone back, there is still the voice of those who do not.
On the same networking site, students against Boone are stating that he should not be allowed back because he is a "symbol of racism, genocide and oppression."
This is referring to the reason why Boone was retired in 1999.
It is believed that Boone, who was created by Walt Disney, represents the historical figure Daniel Boone, a man who led other pioneers to massacre Native Americans in their quest to settle the continent.
Many areas around campus have stopped the movement to bring back Boone.
"From an athletic perspective, all the athletes have dropped the idea of Boone completely," said Chair of Intercollegiate Athletics, Dani Espinosa.
Peg Bradley-Doppes, vice chancellor of athletics, said that the Chancellor has always been clear the Boone will never be an official mascot at DU.
"The university has a moral responsibility to do what's right," she said.
Bradley-Doppes is also co-chair of the History and Traditions Task Force.
The group was convened last October to "examine and celebrate our [DU's] rich history and traditions and try and create more of a campus culture," she said.
Part of the task force's charge was to look at Boone and gather the public's opinion of him as a mascot.
Currently, no decision will be made by the task force regarding Boone until more discussions take place, Bradley-Doppes said.
She was involved, however, in the decision to print this year's planners as the original design featured Boone on almost every page.
"There was some heightened sensitivity because we were made aware that Boone might be offensive to individuals on our campus," she said of the decision to reprint the planners without Boone's image.
New planners will be available near the end of the quarter.
With the AUSA Senate as the representatives for the entire student body, it will fall upon them to further a mascot search because they feel that the students on campus are just not happy with the current mascot, Ruckus, the red tail hawk.
"Boone is gone for all student purposes, but we as a Senate can dialogue about a new mascot," Kumar said.
So what's the next step for Senate and Boone, other than waiting for the chancellor's official statement?
Senate advisor Carl Johnson, who is also the director of student programs and Greek Life, said, "We need to hear from all students, groups and administrators. We need to get educated about all their perspectives."
15 comments:
It doesn't look good for Boone, I am fairly certain the Chancellor will do what he feels is politically correct, in other words, traditions are to be put aside...what a shame
Can someone please fill me in as to what is so "offensive" about a cartoon character with a unique history?
At least take the time to see how ridiculous the current hawk(?) thing is when referring to pioneers.
No one can tell you exactly what is so offensive, because no one from the "other side" has ever stepped forward publicly.
DU is pissing away tens of thousands of dollars in merchandise sales by not having a recognizable mascot.
DG, you are right on point...I can guarantee that the majority of alums would support the return of Boone, and who makes the biggest donations to the school...this people need to get a clue.
While there is no doubt that given a choice, most alums would like to see Boone return, virtually no one is going to create a "ruckus" if the Chancellor squashes him tomorrow.
About the best that we can hope for at this point, is that they retool Boone in a new outfit that isn't offensive to the dingbat faculty members opposed to Boone.
Perhaps Mannino's creative new helmet opened some eyes over at the Ritchie Center (fingers crossed).
This PC garbage makes my blood boil. Boone represents the history of DU first and foremost. It is a huge stretch to think that anyone in their right mind would see Boone and immediately think of genocide, racism and oppression. People that see that are people that see those things in every facet of life in America. They have every right to dislike the mascot, but no one is forcing them to buy a t-shirt or anything else that has Boone on it. I highly doubt this vocal minority has ever gone to a hockey game or any other traditional university function. But they feel obligated to complain and try to impose their will on these activities.
You hope at the end of the day Chancellor Coombe will make a rational decision and bring back Boone. But I am afraid this will be yet another case of an organization backing down and ignoring the wishes of the many to placate the complaints of the few.
Sounds like Boone is dead.
R.I.P. my friend. Gone but not forgotten......
I am certain that it won't be long before PETA petitions to have the hawk logo removed because it is offensive to animal lovers and because hawks are predators.
The sad fact of the matter is that the people that find Boone so offensive are usually the most bigoted, intolerant people you would likely meet on a college campus. Have they managed to purge Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn from the library yet?
First off, to find a "pioneer" offensive as a team mascot compared to the Washington Red Skins, Fighting Sioux, or heaven forbid the Atlanta Braves (remember good old tomahawk chop?) is pathetic. Give me a break.
On a second note, though, Boone is one of the most toolish, stupid, and downright embarrassing mascots I have seen in a long time. He needs to be revamped, redone, with a new face of competition. I'm sick of these whiners shouting to "bring Boone back" when he looks like he came out of a first-grader's Disney Channel coloring book. Get a life and a new mascot. End of story.
Universities often see themselves as moral exemplars, and DU has committed millions of dollars to improving diversity on campus in recent years, it makes it very hard for the administration to revive a symbol (and make no mistake, symbols matter a lot) that conveys genocide to the very minority audiences they are trying so hard to attract.
While I love tradition, and I wish Boone wasn't offensive to anyone, DU is in a very morally difficult position here...
Look no further than what is going on at Sacred Heart:
http://www.sacredheart.edu/pages/17998_new_mascot_big_red_makes_debut.cfm
DU needs to follow suit.
Well Swami,what's next? You say you wish nobody was "offended" by the mascot Boone. Does every person who "feels offended" have a right to a hecklers veto? With your attitude of rolling over for someone with a distorted view of American history is the nickname "Pioneers" going to be the next to go? Surely someone, somewhere finds that offensive.
Instead why not embrace the pioneer spirit of our countries founding? I'm sick of people that hate America slandering our country and those that came before us as being guilty of genocide. Daniel Boone was a great American hero. To falsely claim he was guilty of genocide is slanderous and historically incaurate.
I also see your assertion of DU spending millions to promote diversity as a specious argument. Maybe if DU spent more time on promoting assimilation instead of balkanizing various identity groups those millions could be better spent.
As I understand it, the Boone character was created by Walt Disney. Who himself is a great American icon. To allow a hateful, vocal minority to relagate Boone to obscurity is shameful. What's next? The campus chapter of PETA mounting a campaign to retire Ruckus? (Truly lame mascot BTW)
Grow a pair and fight back. Nobody has a right to not be offended. Ask yourself what would a true American pioneer do in a similar circumstance? It sure wouldn't be rolling over.
rr......well said. You make some good points. Obviously there are two sides to this issue.
Can someone explain to me why DU got rid of Boone but elected to keep "Pioneers" as the nickname??? The school chooses a red tailed hawk as the mascot but keeps the Pioneer name?????? Huh.....??? I'm not an alum and have only been following DU athletics since 2002, but I remember seeing Ruckus for the first time and thinking "what....????" Where's the dude in the pioneer costume??
If the university and its administration were/are truly serious about being sensitive to all groups they would change the name to the Denver RedHawks or Bison or Rams or whatever. Get rid of the "Pioneer" name once and for all. Is this the case?? I don't think so. The fact is "Pioneer" still means something to the school, its alums, its history, and the administration. Otherwise the "Pioneer" name would have been gone long ago, a la the Miami Redskins going to the Miami Redhawks.
MEMO TO THE ADMINISTRATION, COOMBE, WHOEVER IS RUNNING THE SHOW OVER THERE: if you still value the "Pioneer" name and believe in it then get your head out of your ass and make the mascot a Pioneer. Bring back Boone or some other pioneer character. Personally, I'd rather see a tougher looking pioneer over Boone but whatever. If you don't value the "Pioneer" name then get rid of it and Boone once and for all and give the school a new mascot and nickname. Stop doing this chicken sh** sorry ass job of trying to hold on to school tradition. It's insulting to fans for sure and alums (I imagine).
I think the reason they kept "Pioneers" is not just because it's been there for 50 years or more at DU as a nickname because also because a Pioneer can mean more than a western settler - it can also mean someone who was first, innovates or invents something - think Marie Curie (discovered radium), Steve Jobs (invented a new kind of computer) or even Ghandi (innovated in the modern concept of non-violent protest).
However, making a mascot out of a non-western settler Pioneer is tough. No one has done it very successfully.
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