Student Group Seeks To Ban Boone On DU Campus

(above) Chancellor Chopp & Boone in happier times

A student group most likely organized by the Black Student Alliance at the University of Denver have posted a series of demands online [See document below].  These demands appear to undermine all Academic freedom of expression by students, alumni & staff at the University of Denver.

The "unofficial" Denver Boone mascot, the Greek System, current and future DU employees and student groups who don't subscribe to the "multicultural agenda" appear to be targeted.

DU's Faculty of Color, a multicultural Alumni group and the Black Student Alliance are seeking to ban and prohibit Boone's entry into sporting events & on campus. A fictional cartoon character that was created by the Walt Disney Company in the late Sixties is being labelled "racist" in a well orchestrated campaign.

You can't make this up.

List of Demands for

 The University of Denver Administration

We Demand…

1. An institutional commitment to cultural heritage programming.

1. Extend ONEDU initiatives to support and provide an institutional budget for heritage/history month programs and events by the end of the 2017-2018 academic year.
2. With preference for the following months:

1. February - Black History Month
2. March - Women's History Month
3. May - Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
4. June - LGBT Pride Month
5. September – Latinx Heritage Month
6. October - LGBT History Month
7. November - Native American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month

2. Strictly prohibit organizations with foundations, principles, or affiliations that do not align with the university's current values from existing and becoming a recognized organization on DU’s campus.

1. Remove existing campus affiliated organizations with foundations and/or principles that do not align with the University of Denver’s current values and commitment to inclusive excellence by Fall 2017.
   

3. Mandate Inclusive Excellence workshops, similar to the B.O.S.S. training program.

1. Require all Greek and Non-Greek student organizations on campus to participate in the Inclusive Excellence workshop(s) by the end of the 2017-2018 academic year.
   

4. Hire an external entity to assess and report on current campus climate and inclusion practices and a project manager to oversee the implementation of suggestions.

1. Hire external entity and announce assessment plans by the end of the 2017-2018 academic year.
2. Encourage this external entity to remain transparent and consult with students and staff during assessment process.
3. Offer feedback presentation to all faculty, staff, and students at DU to discuss findings.

5. Create a review committee of diverse constituents, including students, faculty, and staff, to review and improve the university honor code.

1. Revise the honor code to be more explicit and intentional in regards to student and institutional accountability practices in regard to hate speech, implicit bias incidents, etc. by Spring 2017. 

6. Require students to demonstrate commitment to/understanding of Inclusive Excellence during the admissions process to gauge levels of understanding and use that data to inform inclusive excellence initiatives on campus.

1. Require students applying to the university to write an essay articulating their understanding of Inclusive Excellence. This is a productive filtering method to ensure that DU only admits students who believe in/understand the values DU wants to uphold.

1. Implement as an optional essay during the regular decision application period for the 2017-2018 academic year.
2. Implement as a mandatory essay on all future applications, starting with the 2017 early action application for the 2018 – 2019 incoming class.

7. Recruit more full-time psychologists with demonstrated experience in multicultural competence, services and outreach.

1. There is only one postdoctoral fellow (Dr. Erin Unkefer), with a one-year commitment, focused on this area. A full-time psychologist will have more robust historical context of being an underrepresented student at DU, as s/he will be here for several years. Additionally, given the stigma often surrounding mental health services, a full time psychologist can create strong bonds with students over a long period of time. We expect at least one full-time psychologist to be hired or for Dr. Unkefer to be offered a full-time position by Fall 2018.
2. Increase medical and mental health service providers of color and who identify as LGBTIQ. An increase of providers in this field is expected by Fall 2018.

8. Hire new faculty and support existing faculty willing to implement and facilitate Race, Inequality & Social Change (RISC) curriculum.  

1. Create a structure in which RISC curriculum is mandated as a degree requirement by the end of the 2018-2019 academic year.
2. Hire more faculty capable of teaching RISC courses. An increase in faculty is expected by the end of the 2017-2018 academic year.

9. Establish Ethnic Studies department.

1. Courses in Ethnic Studies address that traditionally, the role of Asian Americans, Blacks, Mexicans, Latinos and Native Americans in American history are undervalued and ignored because of Eurocentric bias and hegemonic racial and ethnic prejudice. Ethnic Studies courses also often encompass issues of intersectionality, where gender, class, and sexuality also come into play. Taking into account the racial climate of DU, curriculum like this, be it optional or mandatory is necessary. We would like to see this implemented by the end of the 2018-2019 academic year.

10. Create and implement mandatory online modules on race, similar to Alcohol Edu, to be completed before arriving on campus in order to prepare students to engage in discussions around race relations, inclusivity, and social inequality.

1. Incorporate discussions around race relations, inclusivity, and social inequality into Discoveries Orientation week to be implemented by the 2017-2018 academic year.
2. Create mandatory course similar to FSEM revolving around Inclusive Excellence and the resources offered through Campus Life and Inclusive Excellence to be piloted by the end of the 2017-2018 academic year.

11. Increased transparency from the University of Denver and its administration when it comes to diversity and inclusion.

1. Transparency about current state of diversity and climate (Inclusive Excellence) on campus including:

1. Marketing to prospective students about current student demographics
2. University wide communications about set goals and efforts in progress in pursuit of said goals

2. Establish realistic/tangible short-term and long IE goals
3. Do not "put up a mask" when talking about Inclusive Excellence. Instead, more frequently, acknowledge the issues that DU is facing with Inclusive Excellence, and acknowledge what DU is doing to combat these issues.
4. Put up a poster on the Driscoll Bridge that contains information on crucial initiatives started by the University as well as its progress. This is expected to be updated quarterly.
5. Increased staff, faculty, and administration participation in student-led events pertaining to campus climate.
6. We expect to see progress on these initiatives by the end of the 2017-2018 academic year.

12. Hire more staff to lead and/or assist with diversity and inclusion initiatives.

1. This includes:

1. One new full-time professional hired to work in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to support the work that they do.
2. One new full-time professional hired, preferably a Director, to work specifically on efforts related to domestic and local college access.

1. We would like to see a consolidation of university college access efforts into one centralized office or initiative (I.e. programs offered by VIP and CCESL, Urban Debate, Black Women Lead and Black Male Initiative Summit, Bridge Project, Pio Prep, and Pio visits, etc.)
2. In addition, we would like to see DU make an institutionalized commitment to college access in an effort to help change the perception of DU within the local communities of color in Denver.

3. One new Assistant Director hired specifically for LGBTIQA initiatives and support.

1. LGBTIQA support is currently one of many responsibilities of the professional staff at CME, we believe LGBTIQA support should be prioritized and developed into its own area within the division of Campus Life and Inclusive Excellence.

4. We expect to see progress on these hiring requests by the end of the 2017-2018 academic year.

13. The implementation of more inclusive visual markers and an assessment of current visual markers.

1. Charge MarCom to create and implement a more representative mascot that celebrates inclusion and diversity while acknowledging the history of the university.

1. The term "pioneer" is highly problematic for many, especially our Native American students, as it defined as a person who is among the first to explore or settle a new country or area.

2. Place more paintings, plaques, statues, and other visual markers that represent the histories of different cultures around the campus.
3. Assess and determine where paintings/artwork need to be removed and where plaques need to be installed that acknowledge the individuals and history in which they are named for.
4. We expect to see progress on these initiatives by the end of the 2017-2018 academic year.

14. Strict elimination of Boone's presence at the University of Denver.

1. Prevent Boone (retired in 1998) from appearing at DU events and activities. The University of Denver shall prohibit any office, department or entity utilizing university funds to reproduce, display or support the image or appearance of Boone in conjunction with all University sponsored events.
2. Implement and enforce consequences for anyone allowing Boone in public spaces.
3. We expect to see enforcement by the Fall 2017 quarter.

15. Student meeting with the complete Board of Trustees at least twice during an academic year.

1. This will improve the university's transparency, as well as give students opportunities to voice their concerns.
2. We expect these meetings to start during the Fall 2017 quarter.

 

Boone Photo in Joe Scott's Office

(above) Notice Boone photo upper left

Boone Is Not A Viable Option Bill Passed By USG

(above) The Student Senate's Dirty Deed Done Dirt Cheap

2012-2013
Resolution No: 4 

Authors: Craig Hirokawa (SOCS Senator), Alisa Brown (Sophomore Senator), Zach Gonzales (AHUM Senator)

Co-Sponsors: Harper Hill (Chair of Campus Climate), Jackie Faust (Senior Senator), Katherine Snow (Off Campus Senator), Emily Wetmore (SECS Senator), Vanessa Teck (Senior Senator) 

Whereas; Boone is not the official school mascot of the University of Denver, nor is he supported by the administration of the university; and, 

Whereas; the Undergraduate Student Government acknowledges alumni support of Boone as a part of their history with the University of Denver, but recognizes that the campus climate has shifted, 

Whereas; Boone continues to be a point of contention for undergraduate students, especially surrounding matters of school spirit and who is participating in school spirit activities; and, 

Whereas; the Undergraduate Student Government allocates the Student Activity fee, with student organizations being the dominant recipient of this allocation; and, 

Whereas; the Undergraduate Student Government has attempted to establish an element of consistency among the student organizations, namely through OrgSync., Finance Committee visits, and standardized finance guidelines; and, 

Whereas; the Undergraduate Student Government has strongly advocated for and participated in the School Mascot Task Force because the administration has made it clear that which has made it clear that Boone is not a viable option for a school mascot; therefore, 

Be it Resolved; that the Undergraduate Student Government re-affirms that the governing body does not support Boone; and, 

Be it further resolved; that the Spirit Committee will help reinforce this Resolution by taking a proactive approach when approving or sponsoring any Spirit Committee events; and, 

Be it further resolved; The following committees, operating as direct subsidiaries of the Undergraduate Student Government, including the Academic Affairs Committee, Diversity Committee, International Student Committee, Senate Affairs Committee, Spirit Committee, Student Organizations Committee, and Sustainability Committee,

will not use their funds to purchase any merchandise with the image of Boone on it, effective immediately; and,

Be it further resolved; that the Constitution and Bylaws will reflect the spirit of the resolution; and, 

Be it further resolved; when the School Mascot Task Force has finalized, produced and approved, with administrative support, a new school mascot, there will be a 30 day transition period; at the conclusion of this period, any funds provided by the Undergraduate Student Government cannot go towards the purchase of any merchandise with the image of Boone on it; and, 

Be it further resolved; during this 30 day transition period, the Undergraduate Student Government and the School Mascot Task Force will notify the student body of all policy changes, hold forums for students and student organizations to ask questions, purchase a new mascot costume, and any other necessary steps to ensure a smooth transition; and, 

Be it further resolved; after the 30 day transition period, any entity funded by the Undergraduate Student Government that is found to be using funds to purchase merchandise with the image of Boone may have their funds frozen, at the discretion of the Finance Committee and their perception of prior understanding of the rules and the severity of the situation; and, 

Be it further resolved; that if an organization is found to have used USG funding for Boone merchandise after the 30 day transition period, the SOC will review the licensing status of the organization, and will convene to discuss the funding decision of the organization. Depending on the severity of the offense, licensing status may be revoked by the sole discretion of the SOC. After a second offense, licensing status will be revoked without exception. 

Passed the 26th day of February 2013. 

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution Number 4 was duly adopted by the USG Senate.
Senate Action:
USG Vice President USG President

Born a Bearded DU Fanatic in 1969, He's Finally Old Enough to Join the Freshman Class

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(above) All the photos in this posting appeared in the original 1986 Clarion article

LetsGoDU: In March of 1986 the DU hockey team advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four for the first time since 1973. Needless to say euphoria swept over DU, and the main beneficiary was Denver Boone.

From: Denver Clarion
October 2, 1986

He stands about five inches tall in his natural state - not very impressive for a legend.

He'll turn 18 years old in April, but he's lived through enough trials and tribulations for two lifetimes.

He was an orphan child, all but forgotten during his infancy in the early 1970's. He made a brief comeback as he entered his teens, but found himself on the verge of extinction in 1984.

He's been walked on, spit at, put aside, shunned and criticized as a wimp by his most loyal friends.

But through it all, Denver Boone endures - with a perpetual smile as wide as the DU Arena and an undying enthusiasm for his university.

There is little question that Boone, the Walt Disney-created successor to Pioneer Pete, has survived some turbulent times at DU.

He has often taken the unnecessary brunt of a university just now recovering from a deeply-rooted image problem. However, Boone has been able to put behind him any controversy to become the symbol of a revived University of Denver.

*****

Way back in 1910, DU's sports teams came to be known as the "Pioneers," and with the new nickname came the school's first mascot - Pioneer Pete.

Pete was little more than a cheerleader with a beard and a coonskin cap. His character portrayed a trapper, revived from Colorado's early pioneer days.

DU was trying to get into "big-time" football and Pioneer Pete was one of several additions to the sport's image. The same year the size of the marching band band was increased from 40 to 120.

Pete flourished with the success of the school and although every effort was made to let him work with all varsity sports, he became the symbol of the football program.

At the outset of the 1960's, DU's football program fizzled, and with it went the Pioneer Pete mascot.

*****

Hockey interest built at a break-neck speed at DU during the 1960's, and the school began its search for a mascot for the hockey program. Surprisingly, DU's new mascot was the brainchild of a basketball coach.

The coach was Stan Albeck, who coached DU during the late '60's and went on to become the head coach of the ABA Denver Rockets, and NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets and Chicago Bulls.

Albeck was inspired by Walt Disney characters and got in touch with a Disney artist through a DU contact.

Disney Studios drew up the designs for DU (the only group licensed to use the Boone character) and give it to the Theatre Department, which developed the first costume.

The next task was naming the new mascot.

The Special Events Committee held a contest in the fall of 1968 to find a nickname for the new Pioneer Pete.

Steve Kiley, then a junior mass communications major, won the contest with the "Denver Boone" title. According to a Clarion account of the story, Kiley thought of the name "while exercising his elbow and looking at the bottom end of a glass."

Doug Hirsh volunteered to help out the effort and soon became the first in a long line of Denver Boones.

*****

Since 1969, Boone has been the official mascot of the sports program and, specifically, the hockey team. Many of DU's sports uniforms during the 1970's and very early '80's depicted the Boone on the front.

However, Boone's very existence nearly came to a tragic end in during the 1983-84 school year as a somewhat insecure student body rejected the "wimpy" Boone and strove for a more masculine prototype.

Efforts to replace Boone, which included a contest sponsored by the Clarion, proved unsuccessful as very few alternative mascots were developed.

Then in 1985 and '86 as the hockey team rose back to power, insecurities turned back into pride. A poll among students showed that a vast majority were not ready to get rid of their lovable mascot after all. Boone has weathered the storm, once again.

It was now officially time to reintroduce Boone to the DU public and Lamda Chi president Pete Castro came to the forefront to become DU's latest skating mascot.

Castro had little skating experience but made up for it with an intense drive to see Boone survive and flourish.

After passing out flyers at hockey games explaining why DU should save Boone, Castro took it upon himself to haul the decrepit Boone head out of storage, give it a fresh paint job and continue a long standing Pioneer mascot tradition.

Castro is gone, having graduated with the class of 1986, but DU students will have a chance to take his place when Boone tryouts are held Monday, Oct. 6 and Tuesday, Oct. 7.

For one lucky student, it will be the chance of a lifetime - to be an identity for the university, a source of enthusiasm for the student body and a hero to hundreds of wide-eyed children.

For Denver Boone, it will be an opportunity to once again return to where he belongs - at center ice of the DU Arena, sharing a smile with 5,000 of his closest friends.

(Above) The Clarion two-page spread included a "Boone Tryout Application"