The DU campus is engaged in a fiery debate, over its back-woods, coonskin cap-totingformer mascot.
Where do you stand? Is Boone classic symbol representing a pioneering campus, that rallies students? Or is he a figurehead for white male dominance in society, especially prevalent among the DU population.
The debate has been further fueled by the recent alumni donation for a physical Boone mascot costume that can be seen parading around campus.
Ironically, this symbol that was created to bring the school together has torn it apart, like an Indian violently scalping the hair off a dying pioneer settler.
Does a mascot who has white skin and male characteristics fuel students hate in becoming a non-inclusive, clan-rally attending population? Probably nothing to that extreme.
Yet is Boone’s resurection reversing the low spirit and low student participation in campus events? Will the revived Boone figurehead double the endowment among eager, rallying alumni? Again, that’s a bit ridiculous.
This debate itself is becoming a major issue at DU. For the last several months almost every issue of the Clarion has had some article, or editorial covering and debating the Boone issue.
Dozens of student groups have rallied behind one side of another on Facebook groups and online forums.
Students running in the AUSA Senate elections have made Boone a focal point in their campaigns.
Maybe, for once, the energy should be more focused on real issues, issues that involve people with normal-sized heads.
For example, maybe focus would be better spent on working with issues involving, say, racism and cultural exclusion on campus. Or maybe issues of our low endowment or lack of student school spirit?
Where ever this debate on Boone leads, hopefully DU’s campus can realize that a sweaty guy in a giant felt costume isn’t an issue worth becoming divided.
7 comments
However, I feel as though things have gotten a little awry. People seem to have forgotten about the Denver Pioneers, because it seems as though they want the Denver Boone, parading around donating money for another Boone costume. As Anne put it Pioneer does not only mean a man or Boone, but a spirit of adventure into new experiences. So why not create something from that meaning instead of trying to idealize Boone. This reminds me of the movie the Ten Commandments toward the end of the movie, where the people rally against Moses and start to idealize a gold statue, go figure.
Also Steven did you really have to use the comparison of an Indian, who is your editor?
scholars that DU produces. Thanks, Anne Pennington p.s. I'd never heard of the Boone figure until now. Isn't that name better in Kentucky?
Since I arrive here on campus my freshman year, I have noticed that student engagement in school and student relations with alumni has been shockingly low. Although there are issues that may be more important to this campus, such as a rock-bottom endowment, this Boone debate has brought students and alumni together like I've never seen before. The excitement I see in students when Boone "parades" around campus is a step in the right direction as far as uniting the majority of students on this campus goes. Sure, there will always be a group of naysayers who want to throw a fit, regardless of what the issue is going to be. I don't believe that this small percentage of students crying out is dividing our campus. It's all about school spirit and if this Boone mascot helps DU with school spirit then let the debates roll on. If it's another mascot or another issue that increases school spirit and overall morale, then let's bring those issues to the table!
Although I largely agree with you that this school has issues that need to be addressed, probably before a mascot, that's not what students and alumni really care about. Maybe that's one of the reasons the Clarion has something about Boone every single week. Maybe that's one of the reasons why many AUSA candidates used Boone as a campaigning tool. Boone IS something that this school cares about and I look forward to what lies ahead of us regarding this issue.