Denver Boone: Controversial DU mascot does the Harlem Shake, elicits protest

A group of University of Denver students got a surreal lesson last week at the intersection of pop culture and political correctness, social activism and Internet memes. While filming a Harlem Shake video (see it on the next page) with DU's former mascot, Denver Boone, the group got an earful...

By Jonathan Shikes

February 21, 2013

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

A group of University of Denver students got a surreal lesson last week at the intersection of pop culture and political correctness, social activism and Internet memes. While filming a Harlem Shake video (see it on the next page) with DU's former mascot, Denver Boone, the group got an earful from three other students who believe that the bearded, coonskin-cap wearing pioneer symbolizes the subjugation of Native Americans in the Old West.

Here's the video:

Created in 1968, Denver Boone began life as a cartoon character designed by a Walt Disney artist; he served as the school's official mascot for thirty years. But in the late 1990s, some students began to complain about Boone, and the school got rid of him in 1998. Ten years later, however, a movement was formed to bring Boone back. It failed, but DU allows students and alumni to use the image and the mascot at various games and activities.

To read more about this story, check out "Boone Town" in this week's Off Limits.

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.