Boone Voted Westword’s “Best Mascot” of 2013

The Denver newspaper Westword recently named DU’s embattled student mascot Boone as the “Readers’ Choice” for the 2013 Best Denver Mascot competition.

Westword Editor Patricia Calhoun described the final vote tally as “Overwhelming for Boone.”

She said thousands of people cast votes in this year’s contest. Ballots were cast online in numerous categories. This is the 29th year of Westword’s “Best of Denver”.

“Clearly, the people who want to keep Boone are working hard,” said Calhoun, adding “Boone’s supporters are a very eager bunch.”

Last month, an Undergraduate Student Government (USG) resolution passed Feb 26  banned USG funding supporting Boone to take effect after the introduction of a new mascot. USG also created a student-led task force to re-assess DU’s mascot, which is currently holding public meetings to access suggestions of a new mascot. They plan to introduce a new, official mascot by next January.

Mascot Taskforce member Junior Will Guy refused to comment on the development.

Kim DeVigil, Senior Director of University Communications, said the administration has no official statement on the Westword ranking.

“Social campaigns work when you want to get a vote.”

Man given full sentence for deadly hit-and-run

Andrew Simpson, the man convicted of the hit-and-run crash which killed graduate student Masoud Bahramisharif  was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in prison according to a March 28 article posted on 9 News.

Simpson was convicted of vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a deadly accident according to the article. The 18-year sentence is the maximum sentence for a hit-and-run crash.

Bahramisharif was hit while crossing the street at the corner of East Evans Ave. and South University Blvd. on May 31 of 2012. He later died while receiving treatment at a local hospital.

According to a March 29 CBS4 article, Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey and friends and family of Bahramisharif gathered for the unveiling of a sign honoring the slain student and reminding passerby to drive safely.

Debaucherous night in Nelson culminates in fire alarm

Several incidents were reported in Nelson Hall this weekend, including a case of vandalism in which a couch was thrown out a window from the third floor of the building into the courtyard.

The daily crime report released by the Department of Campus Safety (DCS) states the department received a report of the incident at 2:15 a.m. Sunday morning by an unaffiliated party who had heard the crash of the couch as it was pushed through the window.

“I am shocked that someone would throw a couch out of a window,” said sophomore Communication major Shawna Matthews. “Honestly it is a bit impressive, but at the same time it’s kind of sad that someone would disrespect someone else’s property in that manner.”

According to DCS Sgt. Stephen Banet, there are no current suspects in the case.

“There are no cameras in that area, so that kind of leaves us a cold trail unless somebody saw something and they’re willing to come forward and tell us,” said Banet.

Banet said a bulletin board in the area had also been ripped off of the wall, causing minor damage to the wall.
At 4:05 a.m. the same morning a fire alarm was set off in the lower lot of the north parking lot, forcing students to leave their rooms.

Banet said DCS officers who responded to the alarms saw haze from what they believed was smoke, but found it came from the fire extinguisher which had been discharged in the parking lot, which had also caused the alarms to go off.

“I woke up for the fire alarm,” said sophomore Biology major Jolysa Gallegos. “There was a haze in the parking garage but I had no idea until I got into Nagel, one of my roommates saw it.”

When it was discovered there was no fire danger, students were allowed to return to their rooms. It appeared that someone had sprayed a fire extinguisher into the parking garage.

“I entered the parking garage after the alarm to get back to my room and several cars were covered with the residue of fire extinguishers.” said Matthews.

Banet said there are currently no suspects in the case.