The time to move forward on a new mascot is now, according to Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Communications Kevin Carroll.

“Our current students have a strong desire for an official mascot that everyone can embrace, and can be a catalyst for expanded spirit on and off campus,” said Carroll in the April 10 email to the student body.  “Without an official mascot since 2008, the University of Denver is not benefitting from the powerful tradition and unifying spirit that an official mascot contributes to the entire community.”

A document attached to the email from Carroll outlined the mascot research process, which will conclude on May 31. The name “Denver Pioneers” will remain unchanged, as will the school colors, crimson and gold.

The mascot design process is currently in phase one, which is collecting information from “one-on-one interviews, in-person focus groups, Internet-based focus groups and open forums touching hundreds of alumni, students, faculty and staff,” according to the document. The research is being overseen by Stratfix, the firm that helped gather feedback for DU’s new logo.

Phase 2 of the mascot research process will start on April 28, when the committee takes forum and survey feedback and starts working on concepts graphic designer Leighton Hubbell.

Phase 3 will send out roughly seven to ten concepts, each with a narrative and drawing, to students, faculty, alumni and staff. According to the document, “the concepts will not be voted against each other.” Carroll said a survey will be attached so students, faculty, alumni and staff can provide their feedback.

“We’re going to ask things like, ‘how closely does this character does this character fit image of Denver pioneer?’” said Carroll.

Carroll said the pool of mascots will be narrowed down from around three to five. After refinement, the steering committee and USG will deliver their decision for the final mascot to the Board of Trustees.

The committee wants to bring in a Daniel Boone historian to give a talk about the frontiersman’s history. The committee hopes to have a physical mascot ready for the incoming class this fall, coinciding with Phase 4 of the plan, “Evolution of DU’s Mascot Event.”

This ceremony would recognize Boone’s role in school history, along with other DU mascots, before the new mascot is introduce.

“We will recognize Boone forever as part of our history,” said mascot steering committee member Cora Foley. “He’s not being erased clean.”

The funding for the project will partly come from USG and a University fund. These funds will be repaid “from royalties the University will receive through the sale of new mascot merchandise,” according to the document.

USG President Sam Estenson and Vice President Parker Calbert sent out an email on April 3, outlining the belief that DU needs to move toward a more inclusive mascot.

“Parker and I steadfastly stand behind the belief that, at this point in our University’s history, the mascot images of our past neither reflect the values of nor unite our entire community today, as is indisputably the highest purpose and standard of a mascot,” said Estenson the email.

Several students voiced their opinion on the mascot at the April 10 meeting, advocating for Boone and a new mascot.
Some students argued that the move was “unfair” and that the majority of the student body would be “silenced” if Boone was removed, while others pushed forward with suggestions for a new mascot that retained Boone-