Mile High Mids

Boone Bill text: Spirit Committee to shun Boone?

Here is a downloadable PDF of the anti-Boone resolution that was passed last night by the University of Denver’s Undergraduate Student Government. According to LetsGoDU, it passed by a vote of 15-6. Key points:

• As reported previously, the central feature of the bill is a ban on the use of student activity-fee funds to purchase merchandise bearing Boone’s image.
  
  
• Also as reported previously, this ban will go into effect, as it relates to activity-fee expenditures by student organizations, 30 days after “the School Mascot Task Force has finalized, produced and approved, with administrative support, a new school mascot.”
  
  
• However, as it relates to expenditures by USG and its own committees, which are its “direct subsidiaries,” the ban (which is reportedly already informally in place for these entities) is effective immediately.
  
  
• In some contrast to Tuesday’s Clarion article, the resolution asserts that the university administration — not the USG — is the one declaring Boone “not viable” as a mascot. It says “the Undergraduate Student Government has strongly advocated for and participated in the School Mascot Task Force because the administration has made it clear…that Boone is not a viable option for a school mascot.” However, the resolution also states flatly that USG “does not support Boone.”
  
  
• The resolution “acknowledges alumni support of Boone as a part of their history with the University of Denver,” but asserts (or, in its words, “recognizes”) that “the campus climate has shifted.” The resolution does not acknowledge student support for Boone, stating instead that “Boone continues to be a point of contention for undergraduate students, especially surrounding matters of school spirit and who is participating in school spirit activities.”

• The resolution does not appear, by its terms, to forbid student organizations which receive activity-fee funds from using other, non-activity-fee money (for instance, proceeds from a fundraiser) to buy Boone merchandise. The core rule is that, starting 30 days after a new mascot is approved, “any funds provided by the Undergraduate Student Government cannot go towards the purchase of any merchandise with the image of Boone on it.”

• In the only possibly significant provision that has not been previously reported on, the resolution appears to suggest that USG’s Spirit Committee should shun Boone when planning its events — though this is not stated outright. The relevant language states:

Be it Resolved; that the Undergraduate Student Government re-affirms that the governing body does not support Boone; and,

Be it further resolved; that the Spirit Committee will help reinforce this Resolution by taking a proactive approach when approving or sponsoring any Spirit Committee events