(above) "DU Students for Liberty" were some of the early arrivals Thursday evening 
(left) Boone was in Da House Thursday evening in Sturm HallUniversity of Denver's “Defining a Pioneer” community discussion held Thursday evening at Sturm Hall attracted an audience of roughly 60 people.
The event kicked off with a slick video presentation prepared by DU on the history of Denver's various mascots. One observer commented that it had a "Ken Burns" feel to it.
The opposition was represented by Vice Provost Jim Moran, who spoke about being Native American and that caricatures like Boone represented "micro aggression" against people of color and women.
If you're like us, you went straight to Google to figure out WTF "micro aggression" is. Imagine our surprise when we found out that its World Wrestling Federation figurines. So to recap Boone is bad, but wrestling-themed GI Joe type dolls for sexually ambiguous young boys is OK.
Then a professor with a long name [Corey Ciochetti] spoke about school spirit and since he went to Duke, he ought to know how to turn Boonetown into Cameroon Indoor in a jiffy.
Next up was the "breaking up into small group discussions," which must be a new management technique being taught by the DU business school. This seemed like perfect opportunity to slip off for a beer and a shower, but more excitement was to follow.
The moment we'd all been waiting for, the microphone was turned over to questions from the floor. Luckily the night was not a complete loss as the above mentioned "DU Students For Liberty" got up and stole the show. They turned "micro aggression" on its ear and by the end of their presentation, Chancellor Coombes (if he'd bothered to show up), would probably have awarded them scholarships for being "Marginalized" during the evening.
One of our readers followed and read her essay featured on LetsGoDU earlier in the day. This is yet another example of LetsGoDU breaking stories before they occur. If we had been there we would have given her a standing ovation.
In conclusion, 7 members of the Boone opposition attended tonight's "rally." They have cost the university hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost merchandise sales. Not to mention pissing off several hundred alums, who donate money to DU. To put the attendance in perspective, when we meet for "Curry Night" every Wednesday after work at the Red Lion Pub in Houston, we get 10 people to show up.
Lets hope Gwoz's boyz show up on Friday night with a little "micro aggression" of their own.
The event kicked off with a slick video presentation prepared by DU on the history of Denver's various mascots. One observer commented that it had a "Ken Burns" feel to it.
The opposition was represented by Vice Provost Jim Moran, who spoke about being Native American and that caricatures like Boone represented "micro aggression" against people of color and women.
If you're like us, you went straight to Google to figure out WTF "micro aggression" is. Imagine our surprise when we found out that its World Wrestling Federation figurines. So to recap Boone is bad, but wrestling-themed GI Joe type dolls for sexually ambiguous young boys is OK.Then a professor with a long name [Corey Ciochetti] spoke about school spirit and since he went to Duke, he ought to know how to turn Boonetown into Cameroon Indoor in a jiffy.
Next up was the "breaking up into small group discussions," which must be a new management technique being taught by the DU business school. This seemed like perfect opportunity to slip off for a beer and a shower, but more excitement was to follow.
The moment we'd all been waiting for, the microphone was turned over to questions from the floor. Luckily the night was not a complete loss as the above mentioned "DU Students For Liberty" got up and stole the show. They turned "micro aggression" on its ear and by the end of their presentation, Chancellor Coombes (if he'd bothered to show up), would probably have awarded them scholarships for being "Marginalized" during the evening.
One of our readers followed and read her essay featured on LetsGoDU earlier in the day. This is yet another example of LetsGoDU breaking stories before they occur. If we had been there we would have given her a standing ovation.
In conclusion, 7 members of the Boone opposition attended tonight's "rally." They have cost the university hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost merchandise sales. Not to mention pissing off several hundred alums, who donate money to DU. To put the attendance in perspective, when we meet for "Curry Night" every Wednesday after work at the Red Lion Pub in Houston, we get 10 people to show up.
Lets hope Gwoz's boyz show up on Friday night with a little "micro aggression" of their own.
6 comments:
Hilarious recap.
The video was excellent.
The professor with the long name was Corey Ciochetti.
Once you get past the WWF dolls on google, there are a few references to microaggressionm which means a subtle forms of racism or bias.
"Social scientists call the event a “microaggression,” by which they mean one of those many sudden, stunning, or dispiriting transactions that mar the days of women and folks of color. Like water dripping on sandstone, they can be thought of as small acts of racism."
I think there would have been a lot more people if the Broncos weren't playing.
Somehow the micro aggression crowd doesn't strike me as Bronco fans, but what do I know.
Someone told me tonight that Channel 7 did a piece on Boone in its 10 PM newscast.
Don't have a link.
My family would of been there if I didn't have a championship hockey game tonight.
It appears that this meeting was nothing more than a feeble attempt to placate the bring back Boone crowd. I wrote another letter, but I asumme it will go unanswered just as all the rest have.
What is our next move. Is there any way we can get a face to face with the chancellor?
I think the meeting was more than than just a placating tactic. I think the Chancellor asked outright for community-wide discussions on what it means to be a Pioneer and has charged us in making progess toward what in all probability will be a new representation of a Pioneer.
The students organized the meeting and are tyring very hard to galvanize the community as best they can. They didn't wait long to call the meeting, and I'm impressed by the amount work they are putting into it.
I am less impressed by our alumni and fans, who are doing little more than sending angry e-mails from their computers but contributing little to process of improvement. Only about 10 alumni/fans showed up last night, which to me, is a poor showing in my book.
We, as alumni, dropped the ball last time around by not being heard when Boone was dropped in 1999. We should not sit around this time.
It is up to us to show up at the meetings and be a part of the process, rather than just complaining about it and mocking the chancellor.
For example, if Boone is out (and it looks like he is for now) what kind of other Pioneers or Western Representations might be more acceptable?
Come on guys - show up.
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