Several professors are urging the University of Wyoming to "shelve" its new marketing slogan, "The World Needs More Cowboys," because they feel it evokes the image of a "white, heterosexual male."
One professor acknowledged that the real history of cowboys "is more diverse than that racially, and presumably also for sexual orientation," but insisted that the slogan will make non-white students feel less welcome.
The University of Wyoming has come under fire for its new slogan, “The World Needs More Cowboys,” with opponents complaining that the word “cowboy” is sexist and non-inclusive.
The marketing campaign, set to launch in September, was designed to increase enrollment and attract new out-of-state students, but according to The Laramie Boomerang, the UW Committee on Women and People of Color wrote a letter to university officials demanding that they “shelve” the slogan in favor of a new one that “represents the diversity of the people and cultures” at UW.
"The criticism of the slogan as being sexist, racist, and offensive simply does not hold water in the context of the overall campaign." Tweet This
[RELATED: Students petition to eliminate ‘offensive’ Colonial mascot]
“I am not the only person for whom the word ‘cowboy’ invokes a white, macho, male, able-bodied, heterosexual, U.S.-born person,” associate professor of kinesiology and health Christine Porter told the Boomerang.
“The history of cowboys, of course, is much more diverse than that racially, and presumably also for sexual orientation,” she conceded. “But the image—what the word ‘cowboy’ means off the top of almost everybody’s head in the U.S.—is the white, heterosexual male.”
The university, however, is undaunted by the criticism, emphasizing that the term is intended to evoke “the spirit of the cowboy that we all kind of share in.”
“The university is moving forward with the marketing campaign,” UW communications director Chad Baldwin told Campus Reform.
“The criticism of the slogan as being sexist, racist, and offensive simply does not hold water in the context of the overall campaign,” Baldwin added. “‘Cowboys’ is the university’s official mascot and nickname, and the upcoming campaign casts it in a way that we have demonstrated is effective in catching the attention of prospective students from outside Wyoming.”
[RELATED: Petition: LSU Tigers mascot a ‘symbol of white oppression’]
UW utilizes the concept of the cowboy in several aspects of campus life. The UW mascot is a horse called “Cowboy Joe,” and its logo is the silhouette of a cowboy on a bucking horse. UW also refers to its student body as “cowboys” and has several programs that use the term such as “Cowboy Parents,” “Cowboy Connect” and “Cowboy Legacy.”
Porter, however, expressed concerns that the “Cowboy” emphasis is not inclusive enough.
“I care most about our university having a slogan that makes all people feel welcome here,” Porter told the Boomerang. “I also care about us not embarrassing ourselves as an institution across the nation. However proud this state is of our cowboy tradition, it just does not translate outside the Rocky Mountain West.”
UW reportedly paid roughly $500,000 to marketing firm Victors and Spoils to develop the slogan as part of a $1.4 million marketing project to attract out-of-state students.
Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @Grace_Gotcha
#1: Gatlin To: Deckard (#0)
Gatlin posted on 2018-07-11 06:41:55 Reply Private Reply
#2: A K A Stone To: Gatlin (#1)
A K A Stone posted on 2018-07-11 07:02:56 Reply Private Reply
#3: Gatlin To: A K A Stone (#2)
I simply choose to use only 60% of the allotted space horizontal because it shows, and reads, like a newspaper column. I personally find it easier to work with when constructing my posts. I do not need to read from far left to far right. I can see the text in concise format immediately, as I said….like a newspaper column. I do find newspaper columns easier to read that a book format. Furthermore, I have seen the formatting I use appear on a couple of other forums and it definitely was easier to read.
I hope this answers your question and I prefer to continue formatting my posts as I do now. However, if this does bother you, I will cease immediately. Let me know …
Gatlin posted on 2018-07-11 07:15:43 Reply Private Reply
#4: A K A Stone To: Gatlin (#3)
A K A Stone posted on 2018-07-11 07:23:08 Reply Private Reply
#5: Gatlin To: A K A Stone, Tooconservative (#4)
I increased the font size by one, let me know if it is larger for you….and if I still need to go higher on the font size.
I will bring TC in on this for help, if he is not too pissed at me for my anti-libertarian tirade.
This higher font size really BLOWS UP on my computer.
Gatlin posted on 2018-07-11 07:50:32 Reply Private Reply
#6: A K A Stone To: Gatlin (#5)
Do you have to.
A K A Stone posted on 2018-07-11 07:59:04 Reply Private Reply
#7: Gatlin To: A K A Stone, Tooconservative (#6)
Have to what?
TC - How does this 4em font size look to you, as compared to the 3em I was using?
Gatlin posted on 2018-07-11 08:14:27 Reply Private Reply
#8: Tooconservative To: Gatlin (#5)
I only shrink the type size for long quotes or to blockquote a reply post, otherwise I just use the forum default.
Tooconservative posted on 2018-07-11 08:16:31 Reply Private Reply
#9: A K A Stone To: Gatlin (#7)
It is not a demand. I'm just saying do what you have to do do post comfortably. Hopefully we can read it too.
A K A Stone posted on 2018-07-11 08:17:57 Reply Private Reply
#10: Tooconservative To: Gatlin (#7)
2em 3em 4em
Tooconservative posted on 2018-07-11 08:21:09 Reply Private Reply
#11: Gatlin To: A K A Stone, Tooconservative (#8)
It should be forum default size.
Gatlin posted on 2018-07-11 08:23:33 Reply Private Reply
#12: Gatlin To: Tooconservative, A K A Stone (#10)
That's what I figured. I cannot understand why the font is smaller for Stone. He did say that he was using his phone.
I am going back to what you are using and what I used before. They were the same.
I'll bet the size will be okay on Stone's PC. Let me know, please, Stone.....when you are on your PC.
Thanks TC, you are still m mentor (I hope) …
Gatlin posted on 2018-07-11 08:32:19 Reply Private Reply
#13: Gatlin To: A K A Stone (#9)
Gatlin posted on 2018-07-11 08:36:33 Reply Private Reply
#14: A K A Stone To: Gatlin (#12)
A K A Stone posted on 2018-07-11 08:37:07 Reply Private Reply
#15: Gatlin To: A K A Stone, Deckard (#14)
Now back to normal programming….I guess we shot the Hell out of Deckard’s IMPORTANT news announcement.
Sorry about that, really….Deckard.
I will make it up to you. I promise not to post another new THREAD about libertarianism today….that’s today only.
Gatlin posted on 2018-07-11 08:40:20 Reply Private Reply
#16: A K A Stone To: Deckard (#0)
Let's deport all these fake Americans.
A K A Stone posted on 2018-07-11 08:52:01 Reply Private Reply
#17: Deckard To: Gatlin (#1)
Piss off troll-boy. At least I'm not spamming the site with relentless, poorly thought out articles from leftists and admitted internet trolls disparaging a legitimate political philosophy.
If you can't see the value of this article, how it shows the PC mindset of leftists and their hatred of straight, white males and the rampant censorship of conservatives at colleges all over America, then I say again to you - "piss off".
Or maybe you just dislike cowboys for their self-reliance and individuality.
Deckard posted on 2018-07-11 09:05:40 Reply Private Reply
#18: sneakypete To: Deckard (#0)
Just say it with a lisp,and they will love it.
Most already have the assless chaps and other leather.
sneakypete posted on 2018-07-11 10:10:30 Reply Private Reply
#19: sneakypete To: A K A Stone (#16)
Don't kid yourselves. Those profs and their playmates really,REALLY love "toweboys". Especially ones only wearing assless leather chaps,leather vests,and toweboy hats.
They are more "Dustin Hoffman Cowboys" than "John Wayne Cowboys".
sneakypete posted on 2018-07-11 10:14:29 Reply Private Reply
#20: Deckard To: sneakypete, A K A Stone (#19)
A lot of "Brokeback Mountain" cowboys I would guess.
Deckard posted on 2018-07-11 10:19:46 Reply Private Reply
#21: Gatlin To: Deckard (#17)
If libertarianism is as you say, a legitimate political philosophy….then you should be able to easily show us a country run on libertarianism. If there hasn't been any, then why should anyone believe that it could ever work?
I await your answer.
I see where the UW reportedly paid roughly $500,000 to marketing firm Victors and Spoils to develop the slogan …What a bunch of stupid assholes, to waste so much money. Maybe it was a “brother-in-law” keep it in the family deal….ya think? Could have been …
That appears to be all you can say. You obviously need much help with your debate skills. Here, let me recommend this training course to you: How do I improve my debate and argument skills? . Nah, au contraire….cue old Willie:Gatlin posted on 2018-07-11 10:33:17 Reply Private Reply
#22: sneakypete To: Deckard (#20)
Same critter,different "range". The only difference is the "Hoffman Cowboy" lived in NYC,and the "Brokeback Mountain Cowboys" lived out west and actually herded cows.
sneakypete posted on 2018-07-11 10:45:14 Reply Private Reply
#23: no gnu taxes To: Deckard (#0)
no gnu taxes posted on 2018-07-11 10:56:00 Reply Private Reply