Mascot Committee survey returns “inconclusive” results
After several months of conversation, the Mascot Steering Committee announced the results of the survey sent out in late June to gauge student interest in three mascot finalists: an elk, a mountaineer and a jackrabbit. However, after receiving the results the committee proposed to not move forward with any of the three designs.
“While the Mountain Explorer and Elk performed the best, neither gained a consensus among the community. As a result, the 75-member Mascot Steering Committee recommends that none of the characters should move forward as they are currently designed,” said the email sent out by the committee in early August.
Instead, the committee said it will focus on developing the current university spirit program, as well as developing ways in which old university mascots can be “retired” on campus.
The committee has not yet announced any plans to develop new options for the mascot, though the email sent announcing the survey results said the committee plans to “still have a working committee dedicated to reviewing the research data and how to best utilize the results in the future.”
The Mascot Steering Committee is a 75-member committee formed in February to design and develop a new official mascot for the university, which was originally to be released to the student body in fall quarter of this year.
Professor files gender discrimination lawsuit
The Denver Post reported in mid-July that law professor Lucy Marsh filed a charge of gender discrimination against the university, claiming the university violated the Equal Pay Act.
“Professor Marsh believes that she and other female professors at the Law School were discriminated against with respect to compensation because of their gender, and were paid less than men performing substantially equal work under similar conditions in the same establishment,” the filing with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said.
The university and Martin Katz, dean of the Sturm College of Law, responded to the accusation in an email to DU faculty and students on August 22.
“While it is true that male full professors, on average, make more than their female counterparts, it is also true that female assistant professors, on average, make more than their male counterparts.” the email from Katz said. “The University remains committed to fairness and equality for all our employees, including Professor Marsh.”
In the official filing, Marsh claimed that she is the lowest-paid faculty member at the Sturm College of Law, receiving $109,000 annually according to the transcript of the filing supplied by the Denver Post. The same document said the median salary for full-time professors is $149,000 annually.
In the email to students and faculty, Katz said the differential is based on a job performance evaluation analyzing an individual’s contributions in “teaching,” “research and scholarship” and “service to the Sturm College of Law School the University, and the legal profession.”
“The University’s philosophies, policies and procedures ensure impartiality, honesty and equitableness in the performance evaluation process,” the email said. “The law school’s merit raise system is designed to be as transparent and objective as possible, which ensures that no gender bias (or any other kind of improper bias) influences decisions regarding pay.”
The case is still ongoing.
ASCEND campaign most successful in university history
DU Magazine reported on June 20 that the university ASCEND fundraising campaign had surpassed $400 million, making it the most successful fundraising campaign in university history. At the same time, the value of the university endowment passed $400 million.
The past year was the third-strongest fundraising year in the history of ASCEND, according to the article, which will enter its final year in 2013-14.
“Most fundraising campaigns see a winding down in their final years. But as we prepare to start the last year of the ASCEND campaign, the University is in an amazingly strong position,” Vice Chancellor in the Office of University Advancement Scott Lumpkin told DU Magazine.
Money raised through the ASCEND campaign and endowment rate is used for student scholarships, as well as campus projects such as the construction of the Anderson Academic Commons.
Interim dean hired in Daniels
The university announced on June 6 that Charles “Chuck” Patti will be taking over as interim dean of the Daniels College of Business (DCB).
Patti came into the position after previous dean Christine Riordan resigned to accept the position of provost at the University of Kentucky.
Patti will likely serve this academic year as the college continues a search for the new dean. He has previously served as the Daniels senior associate dean for faculty and academic research, according to the university press release. He has also served as department head at Daniels and as the James M. Cox Professor of Customer Experience Management.
“With an academic career that spans over 30 years, Chuck’s experience and background in higher education, administrative leadership and strong ties with the Denver business community will position the college for continued success,” Chancellor Robert Coombe said in the release.
