DU's Multicultural Mafia Moves From Boone To Columbus

(above) No word if the University of Denver will offer Revisionist History as major next year

Not content with just banning the Denver Boone mascot from receiving student organization funding, the "multicultural elite" at the University of Denver set their sights on the Christopher Columbus Day national holiday. Unfortunately, by the time DU's Undergraduate Student Senate got around to voting on the issue, Columbus Day 2013 had come and gone.

The DU Clarion provided all the juicy details.

On Tuesday Oct. 22, the DU Undergraduate Student Government (USG) voted unanimously to pass Resolution 12, which states that USG will recognize Indigenous People’s Day annually on the second Monday of October, the day commonly known as Columbus Day. The resolution further “strongly encourages” the university as a whole to include the term for the holiday on DU-affiliated calendars. 

Resolution 12, proposed by Arts and Humanities Senator Josh Wehe and on On-Campus Senator Kaitlyn Griffith, is an amended version of USG Resolution 10, which called on DU to “remove, in all its totality extending from university, Greek, or athletic calendars, any recognition of Columbus Day immediately.” The resolution proposed the alternate recognition of “Native People’s Day,” but was voted down in a majority vote by USG on Tuesday, Oct. 8 [Read entire article].

Clarion Profiles Coach Montgomery

(above) Boone welcomes Coach Monty to campus

From: DU Clarion
by Calvin Jouard

The air has cleared.

George Gwozdecky will forever be remembered as a great coach in DU and college hockey history. But after what some would deem an unwarranted dismissal after last season, the air has cleared. Time has helped to forget.

In fact the more you look into the future, the easier it is to understand the buzz emanating around the hockey team. Not only will Denver Hockey make its debut in the newly formed National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), but it will, for the first time in 19 years, have a different face standing behind the bench—new Head Coach Jim Montgomery.

So, who is he? [read entire article]

DU Clarion: Boone's Shoes Too Big To Fill

From: DU Clarion

by Chris Bach

Officially, Boone is gone. We are in the process right now of trying to figure out his replacement and the new mascot of DU. Regardless, Boone and what he meant to some students and alumni will be impossible to truly replace.

DU is the home of the Pioneers. None of the replacement options, though, are pioneers. This will leave us with a mascot that does not match up with the symbol of our school. In that respect, it will be impossible to replace Boone because despite how anyone felt about him, he was a pioneer [read entire article].

Clarion: DU Committee Offers Boone Replacements

(above) DU's Mascot Task Force is developing a replacement for Boone

From: DU Clarion

by Gigi Peccolo

The Mascot Steering Committee is currently developing seven concepts for the new mascot and will continue to refine the designs within the coming weeks, according to group founder Will Guy.

The seven concepts leaked on alumnus Damien Goddard’s “LetsGoDU Sports Blog” are: a mountaineer, a mustang, a hiker/climber, a jackalope, an elk, a golden retriever and a robot (a nod to the robotics program). Each conceptual drawing will be accompanied by a backstory for the mascot, according to Guy [read entire article].

News & Notes From Around PioNation

The University of Denver will hold a press conference today [Monday, April 15] at 11 AM MT to introduce Jim Montgomery as DU's eighth hockey coach. Log onto DenverPioneers.com. Things might get testy if the boys from the Denver Post show up.

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University of Denver junior Nick Shore signed a three-year entry level contract with the Los Angeles Kings over the weekend. Shore, 20, was selected by the Kings in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Shore joins Jussi Olkinuora and Scott Mayfield as DU players who have left school early to sign professional contracts this Spring. 

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University of Denver sophomore goalie Juho Olkinuora was named an AHCA/CCM All-American on Friday. Olkinuora enjoyed a breakout season as he posted a record of 13-6-5 while boasting a 2.35 GAA and a .927 save percentage.

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The University of Denver is raising tuition 3.95 percent next year & freezing faculty salaries after an unexpected budget shortfall. DU is blaming lower-than-expected enrollment at the undergraduate level and in four graduate programs, but speculation is mismanagement in a variety of areas is causing the budget crunch.  The budget shortfall spread to the Athletic Department this Spring and explains why every area is under the knife.

Clarion: Young Alum Responds To Coombe's Email

2009 University of Denver alumnus Nick Girardi wrote a letter to the Clarion after receiving Chancellor Coombe's email on March 9, 2013. Coombe wrote that DU was looking for "a new mascot that the entire DU community can get behind and embrace."

In his opinion piece in the Clarion, Girardi called out DU's Undergraduate Student Government and Chancellor Coombe.

DU Student Senate Bans Boone Funding

(above) Chancellor Coombe Daddy approved a task force to bring a new mascot to DU

From: DU Clarion
by Sarah Ford

Last night the University of Denver Undergraduate Student Government (USG) passed a resolution [15 votes to 6 votes] banning the use of student activity funding by campus clubs to purchase materials with the image of the Denver Boone mascot.

A student and faculty “task force” formed by student Will Guy and led by Student Body President Sam Estenson has begun to examining the possibility of instituting a new, official university mascot by next year. Estenson said there is no possibility that Boone will be brought back and re-approved as the official mascot of DU.

According to Estenson, the task force will come up with a new school mascot, including Greek Life, Athletics, the Center for Multicultural Excellence (CME), the Office of Student Life, the marketing department and the Provost.

According to Guy, the task force has also started hearing ideas for a new mascot as well, though they are not making any official suggestions at this point. He said they have had suggestions for images such as an astronaut, gold miner, an ox and an elk.

Boone Controversy Goes To Student Senate Tonight

(above) Mile High Mids Blog looks at recent events on campus swirling around Boone

Boone's Facebook Page - A Call To Arms

Clarion: Boone To Be Replaced By Astronaut, Gold Miner, Ox or Elk

Let's face it. One thing you can say about Coloradans is they don't like outsiders.  Drive to the Rockies and count how many bumper stickers say "Texans Go Home" or "Visualize Moving Your Yuppie Ass Back To California."  The practice apparently goes back to the 1800's when Native Americans didn't like the influx of Pioneers.

Tonight a former Boone performer, DU Senior Zeke Perez and a current Boone performer will appear in front of DU's Undergraduate Student Government.  Its going to be a circus because the after all the grandstanding, the USG will "decide" Boone is not a viable option for a school mascot.  If only O.J. Simpson had it this easy in court.

The DU Clarion reports that a DU task force has started hearing ideas for a new mascot, though they are not making any official suggestions at this point. Suggestions for images such as an astronaut, gold miner, an ox and an elk have been proposed.

Of course no one really knows specifically why Boone is so offensive to the students.   They've never proposed an alternate mascot.  Rumor has it they will purchase the new mascot with customized $20 bills without President Andrew Jackson on the front because, like Boone, he's offensive.

Clarion Editorial Asks "Why Is Boone Unofficial?"

(above) Good questions asked of DU's Administration as they continue to bury their heads in the sand

From: DU Clarion
by Chris Bach

Coming to DU this past fall, I believed our school mascot was none other than the renowned, famous Boone. It was only brought to my attention in the past couple of weeks that Boone is our unofficial mascot. 

This is discouraging, because I looked at Boone with a sense of pride for my school. Instead, the red-tailed hawk, Ruckus, took his place [read entire article].

DU Clarion: Boone Identity Unmasked

(above) The Clarion interviewed Zeke Perez about Boone

From: DU Clarion
by Hannah Gilham

Most juniors have attended their fair share of DU sporting events over the years: cheering, drinking and showing their school pride. Junior Zeke Perez, public policy and political science major, has spent the last two years dressing up as DU mascot “Denver Boone” to represent the ultimate school pride during both games and other campus events.

“Denver Boone” was designed by Walt Disney and served as the DU official mascot from 1968-1998. Independent members of the DU community and alumni brought back Boone in 2009 for sporting and university events, after he was retired by DU administration in 1998.

Perez grew up in Denver and says he has always been a huge sports fan, particularly of Colorado teams [read entire article].

Clarion: Tierney Brings Culture Change To DU

(above) Besides success on the lacrosse field, DU's team GPA has gone from 2.6 to 3.2 under Tierney

“Since I’ve been in Denver, there hasn’t been a day gone by where I’m not excited to get up and come to work in the morning. That’s a pretty cool thing. It can sometimes be stressful, but it is also so rewarding."

- DU Lacrosse Coach Bill Tierney

From: DU Clarion

by Anna Gauldin

Men’s lacrosse head coach Bill Tierney has brought a winning tradition to the University of Denver, posting a 35-14 overall record in three seasons and leading the Pioneers to the program’s first NCAA tournament victory and Final Four appearance in 2011.

Tierney joined the Pioneer staff in July of 2009 after more than 20 years as head coach at Princeton. Since then, he has expanded the lacrosse program dramatically across all levels and garnered national attention for a Denver team that competes in a sport restricted primarily to the East Coast. Tierney has coached the Pioneers to three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances; the program had only reached the tournament twice prior to his tenure [read entire article].

Clarion: DU Lax Comeback Falls Short In OT

Denver Post Game Recap

From: DU Clarion
by Steve Coulter

The DU men’s lacrosse team couldn’t finish off what would have been one of the most epic comebacks in lacrosse history, falling 14-13 in an overtime thriller to No. 3-ranked Loyola in the semifinals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference championship tournament this afternoon at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.

The Greyhounds survived a seven-goal comeback by the Pioneers in the fourth quarter, when junior Scott Ratliff, a long-stick midfielder, scored past freshman goalie Ryan LaPlante eight seconds into overtime following the opening face-off [read entire article].

AD Discusses DU's Present & Future Plans

From: DU Clarion

by Anna Gauldin

There's a very good and comprehensive interview in the DU Clarion with University of Denver Athletic Director Peg Bradley-Doppes. She has done a sensational job hiring and retaining some of the best coaches in their respective sports.  Multiple National Championship's litter the resumes of several of the coaches & coaching staffs.

The next challenge is getting butts in the seats and matching the attendance successes of lacrosse and hockey.  Men's basketball attendance has been in rapid accent in recent seasons, but still has a way to go.

The challenges that face the hockey program as it transitions to the NCHC will be a daunting task.  Check out the article, its very well written and informative.

DU Clarion: New Ice Chillers For Magness

(above) Magness Arena often resembled a lake on nights when DU's old chillers couldn't keep up with the heat in the building

From: DU Clarion
by Emma McKay

The Ritchie Center will replace its 12-year-old ice rink chiller this summer with a $900,000 more efficient one. The new chiller will save the university approximately $40,000 in annual operating costs, according to Allan Wilson, director of Facilities Services at the Ritchie Center.

The ice rink currently uses a cooling component called glycol, which must reach zero degrees Fahrenheit to chill the ice rink to its typical temperature of 11-16 degrees, according to Wilson.
.

The current machine lasted 12 years, and he predicts the new chiller will last about the same. According to him, the last chiller ran 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“You would hope that a machine like that would last longer than 12 years,” said Wilson. “But we have to remember that it was running all the time. It actually did pretty well.”

The new chiller will be built next to the existing plant.

“We’ll keep it so there will be redundancy in the future,” said Wilson.  “If one machine breaks down, then we would always be able to produce a hockey game” [read entire article].

Clarion: Daniels Business School Ranked #57

From: DU Clarion

by Phoebe Cobum

Daniels College of Business (DCB) was ranked 57th out of 124 schools in the nation this month, up from 74th two years ago, according to Bloomberg Business Week, which provides business news on the economy and finances around the world.

Chris MacMillan, the executive director of Strategic Planning and Rankings at DCB, said rankings usually remain relatively stagnant.

“There is very little change in the top 20 schools, but it is impressive [for DCB] to make that much of a move,” she said.

Business Week identifies top undergraduate programs by looking at student satisfaction, results after graduation and academic quality. To determine this, they uses nine measures called data points [read entire article].

Clarion: Condolezza Rice Comes Back To DU

(above) Condolezza Rice graduated from DU in 1974

DU Today Article

From: DU Clarion

by Gigi Sulkin

Former Secretary of State and DU alumna Condoleezza Rice toured DU on Monday, making stops in two International Studies classes to lecture on upcoming threats to the international system and then to conduct a question-and-answer session at the Cable Center at 6 p.m.

An audience of nearly 700 people attended the question-and-answer event at the Cable Center, which was not open to the public to hear Rice recount her political experience and career [read entire article].

DU's "Inclusive Excellence" Policies Are A Joke

(above) Hey Kids, you're violating DU's "Diversity Statement"

Denver Post Article

Westword Article

Chancellor Coombe's PC Police are on patrol again and this time their failed priorities have made the Denver Post and Westword newspapers.  A recent fraternity & sorority Cowboys & Indians party supposedly belittled Native American students' culture and spirituality, and the theme party also violated the University of Denver's "Diversity Statement."

If you're wondering why DU jacked up student tuition 3.5% next year, you only have to read the Denver Post article.  DU actually has a paid "Assistant Provost for Inclusive Excellence."  What this person actually does for $50,000 a year in salary and benefits was on full display in the Post article.

Back at the "Tepee Party" on the Driscoll Lawn, more than 100 students and other onlookers watched and listened as a succession of speakers described an ongoing lack of respect for Native Americans that includes continued use of stereotypes.

Westword has the details of the offending event that caused the uproar.

​"An unusual event will took place yesterday on the University of Denver campus -- one prompted by another unusual event. At 4 p.m., students and administrators gathered near a tepee on Driscoll Green as representatives of two Greek Life organizations publicly apologized for a Cowboys and Indians theme party DU's Native Student Alliance dubs "piercingly offensive."

The bash, which took place on February 25, was sponsored by the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and Delta Delta Delta sorority. Attendees were encouraged to outfit themselves as either cowboys or Indians. Those who made the latter choice donned what an Alliance release describes as "phony headdresses, face paint, loincloths and all manner of stereotypical viciousness."

DU administrators have spent the past six years running around banning Boone logos & mascots on campus, suspending a tenured professor for mentioning masterbation in class, embarrassing students who wear costumes to parties and holding mandatory dorm meetings every time some Freshman makes a homophobic comment. 

As a recent DU Clarion editorial points out, just because DU is bending over backwards to admit minority students from elite private high schools or the children of wealthy Third-World industrialists doesn't really mean you are championing diversity.

"Inclusive Excellence" at the University of Denver has been, is now and will always be a complete failure.  It hasn't increased minority enrollment, has made a mockery of diversity and is costing DU students a ton in wasted tuition.  And now this story is sure to be picked up by newspapers around the country further tarnishing DU's good name.

The problem is a failed policy, not racist students.

Clarion Editorial Questions Student Turnout

From: DU Clarion
by Alex Proletti

With a hockey team that has won seven national championships and is a perennial contender for the NCAA tournament, you would think more students would show their support.

The Pioneers are at the end of their regular season and hunting for the NCAA playoffs, and yet there was a disappointingly low number of students supporting them in their final home game of the season, which happened to be senior night, against North Dakota last weekend. It's been a season long trend.

Against UND, who has arguably turned into our biggest rival, the student showing was embarrassing. On Friday, a total of 671 student tickets were sold, including the 368 season tickets, but only 228 students attended the game, a meager 34 percent. Saturday was even worse, selling a total of 583 student tickets, including 368 season tickets, and only 166 students (28.5 percent) came to the game.

The numbers from the then-No.1/2 Minnesota series, which is arguably one of the finest programs in college hockey, are almost identical, with 761 tickets sold for Friday and only 259 students, 34 percent, coming out to support. Again, Saturday's numbers were worse with 542 sold and only 159 students (29.3 percent) in attendance.

The lack of support for such key games is disappointing; DU boasts an incredible program, and students can't even show up for the huge games against UND and Minnesota. I will give credit to the student body, we always pack the CC games, but those are not the only big games for this program.

For all of you who own season tickets, you paid $72 dollars for those tickets that you continually allow to go to waste. Why not go?

Denver is on the playoff bubble, according to the latest Pairwise rankings, trying to keep above the No. 16 spot to clinch a playoff bid, but how are they supposed to do so without the support of their school behind them?

So where is everyone? We have a hockey team with 10 NHL draft picks and they are supported by a feeble number of fans at games.

There are certainly those devoted fans who pack the front few rows of the student section every game, but with a school of 5,000 undergraduates and 6,000 graduate students, we should be more than capable of packing more than several rows.

The players consistently work to perform at their best to represent the University of Denver, yet they are met with only a handful of students supporting them. Hockey is DU's biggest sport, so where is the school spirit?

Since the Pioneers clinched home ice for the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs, which begin March 9, students have at least one more opportunity this season to watch the Pioneers play on our home ice.

We need to get out there, pack our student section and support our Pioneer hockey players. We shouldn't be a school that only packs their student section because CC is here, or ESPN is covering a basketball game, so we look like a real school with spirit. We should be packing every game so we are a real school with spirit.

DU Clarion Profiles Sam Brittain

(above) Great Brittain will face North Dakota this weekend

From: DU Clarion

by Alex Proletti

After missing the first 25 games of the season, sophomore goaltender Sam Brittain, referred to by his teammates and fans as Great Brittain, returned to the Pioneer ranks on Jan. 28 and has played the last four consecutive games. Friday, Brittain recorded his second career shutout.

Brittain, a Canada native who played in Calgary before moving to DU, was out of the action for more than six months after having surgery on his ACL in June of 2011 [read entire article].

Clarion Editorial Rips Boone Mascot

(above) As Boone becomes more popular on campus, the PC Police jump into action

From: DU Clarion

by Makayla Cisneros

When it comes to school spirit, the trickiest part is trying to unify the entire student body behind a symbol, such as a mascot. At DU, Denver Boone, sketched by Walt Disney specifically for the use of the university, was the mascot for most of the 20th century.

Daniel Boone, who was the inspiration for Denver Boone, was a pioneer who fought in the revolutionary war in Kentucky, which primarily involved British settlers against Native American tribes.

It is these battles that he is most known for. It is because of Daniel Boone's bloody history and involvement in battles which engaged in the slaughter of Native Americans that he was removed as the DU mascot in the first place; also in part because of his sexist implications as a male representing a multi-gendered athletic community [read entire article].