Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Native American students at the University of Denver are protesting the school’s “Pioneers” nickname, saying it represents “genocide and oppression.”And starting Jan. 1, the school launched a new policy that forbids the use of masks while on university property, effectively instituting a Angst and protests against the pioneers nickname and Boone mascot date back years, and Boone was Although Boone was banned, the pioneers nickname has stuck around in an official capacity, especially within the Last fall, the Native Student Alliance began a campaign seeking to change “pioneers” due to its allegedly offensive connotations, according to The term is “associated with westward expansion, genocide, oppression, assimilation of Native American students,” Native Student Alliance co-president Raelene Woody told “Pioneer does not represent the spirit of the students on this campus,” fellow co-president Ontario Duley added.A photo campaign run by the group features a series of signs around campus with facts about the United States’ relationship with Native American tribes in Colorado, including one sign which read “The Sand Creek Massacre in 1864 ended with 150+ Cheyenne and Arapaho dead, mostly women, children, and elderly #sandcreekmassacre.”“With the No More Pios Campaign, #NoMorePios, we’re looking to create this conversation, this discussion, to bring about change, because Pioneer does not represent the spirit of the students on this campus,” Duley said.While campus officials have made no public statement about the pioneer nickname or the campaign to change it, they have taken steps to effectively ban the image of Boone from campus events, as some students and alumni have continued to honor him as the school’s mascot despite his banishment.Under a new rule, campus officials quietly reversed an earlier decision allowing students to appear as the character.On January 1 of this year, the university instituted a campus-wide ban on wearing masks “for the safety of all DU community members and guests,” “The University of Denver is committed to the safety and protection of all community members and visitors on its campus,” an unnamed spokesman replied via email. DU’s mascot history 1968: Walt Disney character “Pioneer” led DU to ask Disney artists to come up with a mascot figure. DU has 33 NCAA team national championships, most in ice hockey and skiing. While DU has phased out its mascot, "Boone," the Pioneers nickname remains, even though its future is unclear. We won't bombard your inbox or share your info. The group says it has concerns, in particular, about changes made behind closed doors to the Pioneer Spirit Awards and the Pioneer Passage event. But Smith says phasing out offensive imagery and names can be a good thing. “We have a great passion for DU,” he said. Students work to ban ‘Pioneers’ nickname, says it represents ‘genocide, oppression’ Syracuse U. athletes ‘disrespected’ by white peer’s chance at racial redemptionEmory projects an $84 million hit from COVID. "While DU "has not implemented any policy or practice to eliminate the Pioneer nickname," a spokesperson said, it has "made some changes to a couple of events. Now, The University of Denver finds itself embroiled in this debate, as some feel the "Pioneers" nickname must go.“We feel that the link between alumni and the university is at risk,” said DU alum Nick Tremaroli.“It’s not about blaming anybody for the past,” said Ernest House, Jr., who is Native American. The University of Denver established ‘Pioneers’ as its nickname in some 92 years ago in 1925. Boone remained the Pioneer’s mascot until 1998, when all sports at the university transitioned to NCAA Division I, and the athletic director changed the school’s mascot … “It’s about the context in which 'Pioneer' is used.”We’re going 360, starting with you, by looking at a variety of controversial mascots and nicknames, including the DU Pioneers, the Cleveland Indians, the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, The Ole Miss Rebels and others.“Do I find any of these mascots offensive?” said DU student Chris Demaris.
“We all had great experiences at DU. “In recent years violent attacks have led to the harm and even death of innocent people from children to adults in movie theaters, on campuses and in other easily accessible venues. A virtual museum of sports logos, uniforms and historical items. They play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I.Denver is a member of The Summit League for men's and women's basketball, swimming and diving, men's and women's soccer, tennis and golf for both men and women, plus women's volleyball. Smith says he understands the school spirit behind nicknames and mascots.“That strong commitment to the institution because of the sports programs,” Smith said. “They’re caricatures. “Especially when it comes to not offending a big group of people and still keeping some type of school spirit.” “I definitely understand the argument.”“In certain ways, I find them all offensive,” said Madelyn Cohen, who teaches at DU. The official athletics website for the University of Denver Pioneers “Territorial governor John Evans, who was clearly culpable of being involved in the Sand Creek Massacre – one of the deadliest, if not most-horrific, massacres the United States has seen.”House is the director of the Keystone Policy Center and believes celebrating pioneers is insensitive.“We’re talking about federal policies that were created, the Homestead Act, to forcibly remove Native Americans off of our land,” House said.“The pioneer is a murderer and it’s really offensive,” said DU law student Emily Hines.In a statement to Denver7, the University of Denver said that it’s "a very important and complex issue for us and we’re not taking the concerns of our community lightly.