LetsGoDU: The best thing about going to a "All Boone, All The Time" Format here at LetsGoDU is watching our readers rising up against the Sith Order. Some wrote letters to DU, some bitched on message boards, some bought T-shirts and many others got involved. One of our readers wrote an essay.
So on this, our Holiest of holidays "Pioneer Discussion Day," we present to you, our loyal readers
"An Anonymous Essay"
After reading the many articles, emails, and public forum announcements regarding Boone and his fate as Denver’s mascot, I was overcome with frustration and anger about the assumptions being made about Boone and the refusal to reinstate him as Denver’s official mascot. While I cannot be in attendance, I felt the need to contribute to the forum for “Defining a Pioneer”.
First and foremost, mascots have become one of the most popular and memorable ambassadors of a school, team, or even a country. They are a reflection its land and culture as well as being steeped in history and meaning to students, faculty and alumni. For a university, the mascot is a connection not just to athletics, but to the university as a whole.
The Issue:
In a Sept. 17, 1984 Clarion article by Rachelle Scott, the then Director of University Relations Harry Spetnagel raised both the un-sophistication and the gender problem of Denver Boone.
"This is, after all an urban and sophisticated city and the people at this campus are sophisticated young people. I can't imagine they would think the little Boon character would represent them," said Spetnagel.
In 2008, Chancellor Coombe stated.
But, as stated previously, the mascot is not just a connection for athletics, but the university as a whole.
So what’s wrong with the Pioneers? What’s wrong with Boone?
Boone’s appearance is simply the brainchild of Disney. In 1954, Disney’s television program, Disneyland, an episode called “Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter” starring Fess Parker, aired. In the episode, the frontier hero was portrayed wearing a coonskin cap. The show spawned many Davy Crockett sequels, similar shows, and movies, with Parker as the lead. Parker went on to star as Daniel Boone in a television series (1964-1970) wearing the coonskin cap.
The image doesn’t represent Daniel Boone or, for that matter, have any connection to Daniel Boone. (In case you’re wondering, Daniel Boone is most famous for his exploration and settlement of what is now the U.S. state of Kentucky, which was then beyond the western borders of the Thirteen Colonies. Boone was a militia officer during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), which in Kentucky was fought primarily between settlers and British-allied American Indians. He also hated the coonskin cap, instead he wore a hat made of felt.) As for the Coonskin Caps; they were originally a traditional Native American article of clothing, but when European pioneers began settling the Tennessee and Kentucky areas, they made it their own, evolving its use and wearing them as hunting caps.
So Boone’s appearance was never designed to be offensive.
There are also arguments that Boone (Pioneer Pete) is not a positive reflection of DU today, still less of the future. I beg to differ.
Believe it or not Denver students and athletes, you are already Pioneers…
In that same Sept. 17, 1984 Clarion article by Rachelle Scott, the then Director of University Relations Harry Spetnagel also stated that the school would prefer a mascot that did not have a gender, like a bird (although there are male and female birds).
In 1999 Boone was retired to the archives (where his head still remains) and Ruckus the red-tailed hawk appeared. Former Athletic Director M. Dianne Murphy said in a Sept. 9, 1999 story in the Denver Post by Mike Chambers that the red-tailed hawk had more of the traits they wanted in a mascot.
"We also believe that when the settlers came west, red-tailed hawks (frequented) this area," said Murphy.
Murphy was right, red-tailed hawks did frequent the Denver area… in fact it breeds almost throughout North America and is one of the most common buteos in North America. However, I’m curious as to what traits they found in the red-tailed hawk that would designate it a good mascot. (Remember, we are talking about gender, diversity, a representation of the future)
In an article on ESPN.com titled “Off to College: What Name’s Got Game?” the author comments that when your team takes to the court/ice/field, it feels as if they are taking it for you. You feel as though you have a lot in common with them and you continue to have that connection for life. The University of Denver is the home of the PIONEERS. Boone (our pioneer) paved the road to the present, and behind BOONE we will pave the way to the future on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. Without pioneers, there would be no DU.
WE ARE PIONEERS! WE ARE DENVER! WE ARE BOONE
First and foremost, mascots have become one of the most popular and memorable ambassadors of a school, team, or even a country. They are a reflection its land and culture as well as being steeped in history and meaning to students, faculty and alumni. For a university, the mascot is a connection not just to athletics, but to the university as a whole.
The Issue:
In a Sept. 17, 1984 Clarion article by Rachelle Scott, the then Director of University Relations Harry Spetnagel raised both the un-sophistication and the gender problem of Denver Boone.
"This is, after all an urban and sophisticated city and the people at this campus are sophisticated young people. I can't imagine they would think the little Boon character would represent them," said Spetnagel.
In 2008, Chancellor Coombe stated.
“The Boone image of the 1970s was simply not reflective of either the DU or America of today, still less of the future. From this perspective, the old Boone figure is one that does not reflect the broad diversity of the DU community and is not an image that many of today's women, persons of color, international students and faculty, and others can easily relate to as defining the pioneering spirit.”From an athletic standpoint, mascots are often tagged with names that indicate gender and/or certain attributes, in order to strike fear in the heart of their opponents. For example, a mascot called Robbie the Rabbit would indicate a male rabbit that is fast on its feet. This does a lot to create an image in the mind of fans and anyone thinking about the particular team the mascot represents.
But, as stated previously, the mascot is not just a connection for athletics, but the university as a whole.
So what’s wrong with the Pioneers? What’s wrong with Boone?
Boone’s appearance is simply the brainchild of Disney. In 1954, Disney’s television program, Disneyland, an episode called “Davy Crockett, Indian Fighter” starring Fess Parker, aired. In the episode, the frontier hero was portrayed wearing a coonskin cap. The show spawned many Davy Crockett sequels, similar shows, and movies, with Parker as the lead. Parker went on to star as Daniel Boone in a television series (1964-1970) wearing the coonskin cap.
The image doesn’t represent Daniel Boone or, for that matter, have any connection to Daniel Boone. (In case you’re wondering, Daniel Boone is most famous for his exploration and settlement of what is now the U.S. state of Kentucky, which was then beyond the western borders of the Thirteen Colonies. Boone was a militia officer during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), which in Kentucky was fought primarily between settlers and British-allied American Indians. He also hated the coonskin cap, instead he wore a hat made of felt.) As for the Coonskin Caps; they were originally a traditional Native American article of clothing, but when European pioneers began settling the Tennessee and Kentucky areas, they made it their own, evolving its use and wearing them as hunting caps.
So Boone’s appearance was never designed to be offensive.
There are also arguments that Boone (Pioneer Pete) is not a positive reflection of DU today, still less of the future. I beg to differ.
· Miriam-Webster defines a pioneer as a person or group that originates or helps open up a new line of thought or activity or a new method or technical development.As a mascot, Boone has the unique ability to represent the history of Denver with the spirit of being a pioneer. To be a pioneer is to be a trailblazer, a risk taker and a visionary. A pioneer is not restricted by gender, color, or nationality. A pioneer paves the road to the future.
· Encarta defines a pioneer as an inventor or innovator: a person or group that is the first to do something or that leads in developing something new.
· Dictionary.reference.com- one who is first or among the earliest in any field of inquiry, enterprise, or progress.
Believe it or not Denver students and athletes, you are already Pioneers…
· The University was the first in the country to establish what has continued to be an innovative and internationally recognized Digital Media Studies program, organized as a joint venture between the departments of Mass Communications and Journalism Studies, Art, and Computer Science.The problem with Ruckus
· The University of Denver has more than 60 percent of its undergraduate student body study abroad before graduation, placing it second in the nation among all doctoral and research institutions in percentage of undergraduate students participating in study abroad programs.
· Ice Hockey has won 7 NCAA titles including back to back crowns in 2004 and 2005. Skiing has won 19 NCAA titles (more than any other school) including the most recent in 2008 (being short skiers), as well as three consecutive NCAA titles from 2001 to 2003. DU has also seen success in both their golf and tennis programs, as well as the women's gymnastics team. The DU men's and women's lacrosse teams have been at the top of their divisions, and attract a large growing lacrosse hub to Denver and Colorado. The men's lacrosse team has made it to the NCAA tournament twice in its history.
· DU’s alumni have shown to be pioneers in every aspect of life including Politics, Military, Government, Business & Industry, Media, Professional Sports, and the Arts
· Chancellor Coombe’s work as a scientist focusing on the dynamics of interactions among energetic, inorganic molecules, its major applications lying in the development of new laser systems, and new methods for deposition of nitride semiconductors, make him a Pioneer.
In that same Sept. 17, 1984 Clarion article by Rachelle Scott, the then Director of University Relations Harry Spetnagel also stated that the school would prefer a mascot that did not have a gender, like a bird (although there are male and female birds).
In 1999 Boone was retired to the archives (where his head still remains) and Ruckus the red-tailed hawk appeared. Former Athletic Director M. Dianne Murphy said in a Sept. 9, 1999 story in the Denver Post by Mike Chambers that the red-tailed hawk had more of the traits they wanted in a mascot.
"We also believe that when the settlers came west, red-tailed hawks (frequented) this area," said Murphy.
Murphy was right, red-tailed hawks did frequent the Denver area… in fact it breeds almost throughout North America and is one of the most common buteos in North America. However, I’m curious as to what traits they found in the red-tailed hawk that would designate it a good mascot. (Remember, we are talking about gender, diversity, a representation of the future)
- The Red-tailed Hawk is generally non-aggressive towards people and other birds. It is commonly harassed by crows, magpies, owls, other hawks, and even song birds over territorial disputes.
- When threatened, the Red-tailed Hawk will flee rather than defend its nest.
- The eggs are incubated by the female, with the male substituting when the female leaves to hunt or merely stretch her wings.
- The female broods the young, while the male provides food to the female and the young.
In an article on ESPN.com titled “Off to College: What Name’s Got Game?” the author comments that when your team takes to the court/ice/field, it feels as if they are taking it for you. You feel as though you have a lot in common with them and you continue to have that connection for life. The University of Denver is the home of the PIONEERS. Boone (our pioneer) paved the road to the present, and behind BOONE we will pave the way to the future on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. Without pioneers, there would be no DU.
WE ARE PIONEERS! WE ARE DENVER! WE ARE BOONE
4 comments:
Outstanding!!!!
DG Have you sent this to the Chancellor, not that I actually think it would do any good.
Excellent! Thoughtful and well written.
It was forwarded to Meeting Organizers tonight.
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