Author: Paul C. Johnson

One day last spring, sometime between my being selected a finalist for the Mines presidency and visiting the campus, a surprise FedEx box arrived at our home in Arizona. It was filled with the first Mines gear Elyse and I had ever seen: hats, pins, t-shirts, a tie (the only tie I ever wear, when I wear a tie), a pennant, the Mines history book, and a stuffed Blaster. Dividing up the gear was pretty straightforward and peaceful—until we came to Blaster. I won’t tell you who won that “discussion,” but I will say that I had to get online and order a second one quickly to maintain peace in the house. Maybe you first saw Blaster’s likeness on Mines gear like we did, or perhaps you first saw him in person at a Mines event. In either case, many of you probably experienced that instant connection to Blaster that Elyse and I did. He’s the embodiment of our mining history and a symbol of the strong work ethic and perseverance that we value so deeply. Being a burro, Blaster is intelligent and a hard worker, and with his full pack, pick ax, and stick of dynamite, he is ready for action. In person, Blaster attracts young and old, and he can surprise you with his speed (as I personally discovered running with Blaster and Blue Key down the sideline at last year’s Homecoming game). To quote the President’s Distinguished Lecturer and celebrity astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, who spoke at Mines last fall, Blaster “is one badass...