A Year Later, Coombe's Lies Still Haunt Campus


With Halloween right around the corner, its time to remember the big story of DU Homecoming 2008. It was one year ago this week that Chancellor Coombe dropped the shoe on our former University of Denver mascot in an email to students. He claimed that, "The Denver 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"

One year has passed and Boone is back thanks to alumni donations and our students who have crafted a new identity and spirit on campus. Since Boone's return to campus, who's been hurt? Boone has united the alumni, students, fans and many faculty. Boone has brought attention to a variety of sporting events and is more popular than ever among the students. Boone's Facebook page has taken on a life of its own and keeps 2,900+ students, alumni and fans connected to campus.

Every media source that has weighed in on the subject has been "pro-Boone." The Clarion, Channel 9 News, the Rocky Mountain News, the Washington Times and the highest rated radio program in Denver, the Mike Rosen Show.

In his email Coombe promised, "A community-wide discussion of what it means to be a Pioneer, for today and the future, and I ask that the history and traditions committee and our student and alumni organizations take up this question with a view to building community and clarifying our identity."

As to be expected he's done nothing of a sort. He's misled student leaders, unsuccessfully worked behind the scenes to squash Boone, intimidated "pro-Boone" faculty and refused to notify our alumni of his position on Boone for fear of driving away more donors. His position on Boone is overwhelmingly unpopular in the community and cost DU untold thousands in alumni donations.

Coombe's strategy appears to be to wait out the Boone "rabble-rousers" on campus. We're willing to wait him out, but what other University is ever going to hire this guy away from DU? Colorado College has a better chance of winning a National Championship than finding another university willing to hire this guy.

We propose Coombe bring Boone back officially and use the revenue from Boone merchandise sales to support DU spirit organizations on campus such as the band and cheerleaders. If he wants to use a portion of the revenue to fund minority scholarships or increase diversity on campus that would be a bonus.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a joke this man is. When I see him on campus he keeps his head down and doesn’t say hello to anyone. His roundtable "discussions" have turned into just what he wants discussed. It’s not a shock DU is struggling with its endowment. I loved DU but hated the administration. I will not be giving a dime and nor will any of my friends.

dggoddard said...

You hear countless stories like this from students. We need to empower our students, not treat them like two year olds.

Aluuum said...

My D.U.contribution stopped at the same time that I wrote a check for the Boone costume.

Amy said...

We've taken some major steps since last year...like raising money for our new mascot, but I still feel like we should push the administration more.

dggoddard said...

I agree Amy. The students need to push for a vote on the mascot issue.

You have to think that seeing the Boone character in person has dispelled a lot of the myths that were perpetrated.

You'd also think that the school would be looking for new revenue streams and donors during these difficult economic times.

DU has raised tuition rates every year that Coombe has been Chancellor.

Sam said...

I think Coombe's has proven he doesn't give a crap about the student's views. We had a vote when I was a student and it was above 80% approving Boone. I do hope the students come together for this cause and I encourage all of them to take part but Coombe's will continue to sit in his huge office alone, raising tuition and exterminating school spirit.

Anonymous said...

BRAVO!!!!

Anonymous said...

Chancellor Coombe is doing the right thing. I've tripled my already substantial contributions to Alumni Association and plan to maintain that level as long as Coombe remains Chancellor.

Boone insulted my sensibilities when I was a student. It insults me as an alumnus. An official designation as the mascot again will ensure my disassociation with the University of Denver whom I otherwise love.

Anonymous said...

Anon-5:20-Thanks for supporting DU.I helped with a donation to help get Boone built.There is more enthusiasm in Magness than ever.There is a growing school spirit as well.Boone has rallied the troops and it's great.I will always support DU,both financially and with my presence at hockey games.BOONE LIVES!!!!!!

dggoddard said...

I seen thousands of comments on this subject on every message board under the sun. Thousands have been pro-Boone & a few people have been anti-Boone.

I've never seen an anti-Boone person ever offer up a mascot idea or suggestion. So what would be a better depiction of a "Pioneer" than Boone?

Ultimately the decision on Boone doesn't belong to the alumni and it sure as heck doesn't belong to the administration, most or all of whom never attended DU. The decision belongs to the students.

Anonymous said...

the money spent on the boone costume is cool, and all the folks, DG in particular, should be commended for their effort to improve school spirit. My guess is anon 5:20 doesn't really give money, maybe he/she does, if so, then thanks for giving to our school. The reality is the BIG donors don't care about this issue. But most schools have an endowment due to modest contributions by the masses. Let keep working on it, eventually the effort exemplified here will pay off. Go Boone ! Go DU !

Donald Dunlop said...

As usual DG ... good on you for your masterful efforts in all this. But I really have to ask a question.

Would all you Booniacs put the old-style bearded 12 year old boy cartoon on the front of your playerss jerseys?

Oh .. please do. Please. I sure hope it ends up that way. Please. Please. Please. The comedy possibilities are endless.

dggoddard said...

Ask any DU alum outside the state of Colorado who wears raised "Denver" arch clothing; 99.9% of the public think its Denver Broncos merchandise.

I'm hearing that some DU Club teams and some DU varsity teams want to put Boone on the Uniforms. Obviously the Athletic Department said no, but the point is there are some athletes on campus that want it on the unis.

Another funny thing I heard is that many Freshmen think Boone IS the official mascot. They missed all the controversy over the past year.