On Tuesday, Oct. 1, the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) voted against Resolution 7, which would have granted student organizations and athletics the ability to purchase merchandise with the Boone logo with the use of student activity fee money.
The resolution, proposed by USG Junior Senator Adam Hammerman, proposed that “any committee or subsidiary of Undergraduate Student Government, such as the Diversity Committee, Spirit Committee, Sustainability Committee, etc., is allowed to use their allotted fund to purchase any merchandise with the image of Boone on it, as well as any other image supporting school spirit, to be effective immediately.”
Use of student activity fee funds to purchase items with the Boone logo was originally banned last year in a resolution passed by USG in February.
Hammerman expressed his displeasure on the final voting.
“Just like our previous mascots Ruckus and Pioneer Pete, Boone should be allowed to be on clothing just as [Ruckus and Pete] are, because they’re a part of our tradition and history of our school. Instead of banning the image of Boone, it gives the option to use it,” Hammerman said.
USG Sophomore Senator Jess Davidson praised the vote.
“This resolution was not a question of whether or not Boone is right, but how we are protecting and investing dollars students give through their student activity fee. I do not feel that it’s our place to say ‘Yes, we will spend your student dollars on something you don’t support,’” she said.
DU alumni have also contributed to the ongoing discussion on the issue, including former USG Senator and alumnus Tim Healy, who supported Resolution 7.
“I think it was a premature decision,” said Healy. “I think we should have waited until the Mascot Committee chose a mascot. Having Boone has done wonders for our school spirit. Attendance at athletic events has been up. The kids and non-DU fans love him. Since his removal, I know donations have dropped from alumni who feel disenfranchised.”
Healy added that he feels a mascot should not only be representative of the student body, but of the history of DU.
However, those who do not support Boone maintain that the image of the former mascot is offensive to some students.
“For USG to support such a polarizing figure would be very naïve and ignorant,” said USG Sophomore Senator Logan Bohlender.
USG Off-Campus Senator Daniel Mason, voted in opposition to Resolution 7, feels that the mascot issue strictly deals with the DU community, instead of one specific mascot.
“The big issue is school spirit and unity,” said Mason, “I think that what a lot of people think in regards to Boone is that having a mascot, specifically Boone, is the best way to achieve that and the only way. I think that’s wrong. I think there’s a lack of creativity and innovation in that discussion. I want [USG] to find a way to create [school spirit] without the image of Boone.”
