OPINION: DU’s mascot mess is political correctness run amuck
In 1958 a Disney artist rendered Denver Boone, the mascot of the DU Pioneers. The character’s resemblance to Daniel Boone was a tip of the coonskin cap to Daniel Boone, who certainly was a pioneer.
In 1998 the University of Denver put an end to Denver Boone for reasons of political correctness. Denver Boone, you see, represented in some people’s eyes the slaughtering of Native Americans.
There’s since been an effort to resurrect the mascot, which has been chronicled in the Denver Westword. The campaign has failed and now the school is looking for a new mascot rather than embracing its traditional one.
It’s ridiculous.
It’s one thing for groups to put pressure on the Washington Redskins to reject the racist visage of an Indian. It’s another thing altogether for DU to shy away from Denver Boone. They are the Pioneers. Boone represents the school perfectly and wasn’t drawn to offend anyone.
Political correctness has its place. Common sense does, too. Denver Boone should be reinstalled as DU’s mascot.