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| (above) Dave Raymond's company doesn't mention any minority staffers on their website |
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| (above) Will Guy, Tom Bancroft, Leighton Hubbell and Dave Raymond have been brought aboard to develop the new "Pioneer" mascot after the The University of Denver Mascot Task Force was unable to locate any minority candidates |
DU Mascot Task Force Mission Statement
"We, the University of Denver Mascot Steering Committee, shall uphold our University's tenant values of Excellence, Innovation, Engagement, Integrity and Inclusiveness.
We shall facilitate the selection of an official mascot that empower, inspires and celebrates the many traditions, beliefs and identities of our DU community and what it means to be a Pioneer."
Imagine our surprise when the University of Denver Mascot Task Force announced today via Facebook that they had brought aboard additional artists to develop the Elk, Jackalope or Mountaineer mascot. It was rumored that the original artist, Leighton Hubbell, was struggling, like the rest of us, to envision an Elk, Jackalope or a Mountaineer that looked like a "Pioneer."
It was also a surprise to find out that the student who had originally approached Chancellor Coombe to develop a new mascot, DU junior Will Guy, a co-chair of the Committee, was named as one of the "four artists working on the final concepts." If this is the Committee's concept of "Integrity," we love to see how they define "Conflict of Interest."
But the biggest shock was still to come. The four artists commissioned by the University were all white males [see photo above].
The official response from the Steering Committee on Facebook when queried about the oversight, "We reached out to a variety of designers, but given the time-sensitive
nature of this project, we have to move forward to refining the
concepts. We selected these artists because they responded to our
request that they work with us and they are able to dedicate the time
that this project deserves and still meet various deadlines."
Hmm...
43 comments:
Whatever mascot they come up, Will Guy should be required to wear the costume and walk around Magness during hockey games so he can see first hand what it's like to get all the dirty looks, no fan interaction or excitement, and be booed constantly.
I am actually looking forward towards booing this new mascot.
DU Athletics new marketing slogan could be...
"Come boo the new mascot and stick around for exciting D-1 [insert one] hockey, lacrosse, and hoops action."
What are Will Guy's qualifications? Is he a professional artist with experience on logos, branding, etc?
Would he expect to be paid, if selected, or is he doing this for the good of the Pioneer faithful?
He is a Pioneer, right?
Diversity? How about hypocrisy!
Viz, that would be a great question to ask on Facebook.
So far the Task Force has come up woefully short in integrity, inclusive hiring practices, transparency and conflict of interest.
Wait a second.
The whole reason we are looking for a new mascot is so some DU student can pad his resume?
Facebook link says Will Guy is a junior and went to BU for a year and a half before transferring to DU. WTF.
I'd be money he's the one who suggested a golden retriever (or whatever the hell dog was mentioned) because he missed his beloved Boston Terrier.
Good Lord, what a joke.
So sad that in the name of "DIVERSITY" the University will have their new mascot created by 4 white guys! There are some real empty heads on this committee! And how much money are they paying these designers for their time and design submissions? What a WASTE! Oh, but tuition is being raised so they've got money to pay them...
Better yet, the final mascot will be approved by a bunch of old white guys. Oh yeah, there's one woman on the BOT. A white woman.
When DU stops talking inclusion and actually practices it with the hiring of diverse candidates to the TOP level of the administration, then I will believe that our alma mater gives a damn about inclusion. Right now all the admin cares about is the color green and trying to contain and suppress the messaging.
This is beginning to sound more and more like an ABC comedy pilot.
How could you say that isn't a diverse group of artists? One is bald, one wears glasses, one is a normal Joe, and the other one is a child.
Typical PC- diversity is everyone else's problem. Then, add two white male Berkeley grads at the top and you have a toxic mix.
Umm....DU '96 there are actually 8 women on the BOT, and I know at least one is hispanic and the other black. Not sure where you're getting your incorrect information.
2012-13 BOT
Hello my ignorant alumni, please stop commenting on Will Guy's qualifications, understanding, or history. You do not know the whole story, and I would suggest educating yourself on that before continuing to attack a kid who has done nothing wrong.
Well, whatever is selected one can safely presume that the next generation will find it offensive in some way and we can witness yet another entertaining Mascot Selection Fiasco.
For all of you alumni who claim to embrace the Pioneer spirit of DU, you should be ashamed of yourselves for belittling a student with the opportunity to be involved in this process. Obviously, he is not being paid. And there are two other professional designers working on this, along with an entire entertainment group (which, by the way, does have a female designer).
But the real issue is that all you do is whine and want everything to be about you. And not just you, a you that existed decades ago in a little frat house off of Evans- but you'll never move on, you're incapable. Which digs into the root of it all: it scares you a student in college is more worldly, creative, and intelligent than you'll ever be.
The Raymond Group website lists its staff and has a photo of a woman along with four white dudes, but only lists the guy's names and positions.
http://raymondeg.com/team/profiles/index.html?staff_id=3
Thanks for heads up. I'll add the Raymond team photo to article.
This is a message for Will Guy's mom.
Your son's an idiot. Deal with it. Sure he may have been named head of this "amazing" task force. But he's just being played. You'd be surprised at how much we know. I think you're the one that's only seeing part of the story. Be embarrassed, be very embarrassed.
Your son is likely going to regret his involvement in this when he self-serving and higher than thou attitude lead him to ruin and he can't get a recommendation from anybody and has his name all over the internet because he doesn't understand the idea of stakeholders or traditions.
Now for Will, let me give you a job recommendation: Despite what you may have heard Will Guy isn't a bad person. He's actually a pretty decent artist, student, friend. He's very well qualified for the job he is applying for at Pizza Hut for the position of Delivery Driver. I also understand he has applied for the title of Cashier, however I feel his inability to provide transparency and decency while leading a committee at his school fail to make him a good fit for the position of Cashier. Once again though i highly recommend him for the role of Delivery Driver as to my knowledge he has not killed anybody driving his vehicle.
Please contact me with any future questions for references: 973-409-3264.
I hope that helps your darling son get a job, because once he's done screwing up DU he'll be screwed out of a job and my recommendation will be all that he has left.
If only you had the courage to say that to Will rather than writing it here
Can I order a stuffed crust elk pizza with extra sauce and a sketch of an jackalope?
I hope Will has true leadership skills and, after reviewing the facts at hand, announces to the Chancellor and the Board that this 'search' is a farce. That would make him a true school legend and a 'Pioneer'.
Don't be influenced by a Blog, the administration, or anyone else. Just look at the facts, think for yourself...and lead.
please contact me if you have Will Guy's phone number, unlike the cowards at the University I'm more than happy to tell everything I've posted straight to his face. Please send me his contact number by contacting the administrator at SamEstenson.com (no joke)
If this is what Raymond Entertainment Group provides we're throwing money in to a fire pit.
http://raymondeg.com/reggy/
Wow. Any validity this site once had has gone out the window with this drivel. Way to ruin a good thing. We'll be finding our DU news and commentary elsewhere from now on.
@ 5:41
Guys in the unemployment line are full of free advice. Hope you find a job soon.
@ 11:25
Do you really think there is another source for DU news? Have fun searching. This is all we've got.
I'd be more impressed if Ted Giannoulas was a principal of the Raymond Group. In "Heartbreak Ridge," Clint Eastwood's character Tom Highway, talks about a "cluster bleep," which is pretty much on the nose for DU in this phony "search" for a new mascot. Even so, maybe we should dial back a bit on criticizing a kid for wanting to be a part of it.
Agree totally that they DU students helping design the new mascot are not the issue.
No one can deny that the cost of developing this mascot is now heading north of $100,000.
We just need to sit back and watch the fireworks.
This is not a DU news site, nor is it intended to be impartial or politically correct.
This site is about creation of school spirit, and Damien has done more to raise it than anything Estenson and Guy will ever do.
Students told me this weekend at the Lax Final Four that school spirit was way down this year on campus.
They blamed the USG [student senate].
I believe what the kids said was “Whatever you say old guy, can you leave us alone so we can watch the game.”
Political Correctness is overrated. Remember that in the days of Hitler saying Jews were just as much as a human being as a Christian was politically incorrect.
Godwin's Law. You lose.
Godwins Law is an assertion made by Mike Godwin in 1990 that has become an Internet adage. It states: "As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches."
In other words, Godwin said that, given enough time, in any online discussion—regardless of topic or scope—someone inevitably makes a comparison to Hitler or the Nazis.
Wait a minute - so now the people who think the whole mascot "search" is a bunch of politically correct bullshit are getting up in arms over the lack of minority artists on this panel? As much as I understand you guys are all just looking for any excuse to complain, you can't have it both ways.
And just how is Damien interfering with students who watch the game, 11:25?
Damien's efforts are more than any single alumnus at DU to enhance the level of school spirit at DU.
He doesn't do this for money, fame or gratitude. He does it because he cares about his school and it's sports teams, and wants to create the best possible experience for all of us to enjoy our teams.
Show us what you've done for DU sports, 11:25. Until then you're Then we might listen to you....
Dan Ritchie has given over $100,000,000 to DU. DG donated a ratty old mascot costume. DG's statements about the mascot are those of a spoiled child. I'll be listening to what Dan Ritchie has to say.
We are all indebted to Mr. Richie for his magnificent donations. But unless and until he gets the title to the University, it doesn't belong to him. It's the University of Denver. Not Richie University--notwithstanding troll comments to the contrary. I wish we had 1,000 DG's.
There's a Nazi Hunter on every blog.
@1:48
I hear Tom Cruise is rich, enjoy Scientology.
Dan Ritchie's track record on mascots isn't very strong.
Ritchie & Diane Murphy introduced Ruckus the Red-Tailed Hawk. Coombe runs around campus these days telling everyone who will listen that Ruckus sucks.
Coombe has also said Boone sucks....twice. Looks like DG doesn't have a great record with mascots either
Pioneer Pete was good for 30 years and Boone served DU pretty well for 40 years the first time and was a terrific success in the last 4 years in an unofficial capacity. If DU were ever brave enough to measure Boone's current approval rating, it would likely rank somewhere between 60-80%, from a known high of 87% in 2008, before the mascot costume was re-introduced.
@ May 28, 2013 at 12:53:00 PM
You are incorrect. Folks are simply pointing out that the same people who are AGAINST Boone because he does not represent "diversity" chose only WHITE MALE artists to create the new mascot. Boone supporters don't want it "both ways" as you put it...they are simply pointing out the HYPOCRISY of the people who are crusading against Boone. Duh!
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