While this may be Butler’s first year in the Atlantic 10 Conference, Blue II and Trip have already made a name for themselves on the East Coast with their Big Dawgs Tour.

Over the weekend, the Butler bulldogs headed to Washington D.C. with Michael Kaltenmark, director of web marketing communications and the dogs’ caregiver, to see the sights, cheer on their team, and meet with their mascot counterparts.

On Friday morning, Blue II and Trip were introduced to Georgetown’s bulldogs, Jack and Jack Jr.—also known as JJ.

The dogs hung out for about three and a half hours, and though Blue II and Trip were initially apprehensive of the Georgetown duo, they were able to get along, Kaltenmark said.

“There were a couple tense moments,” Kaltenmark said. “Jack and JJ were protecting their turf, but once we got them outside, they were fine.”

As the Butler dogs roamed around campus, they were continuously acknowledged and welcomed by the Georgetown community.

Continuing their journey through Washington D.C., the dogs visited the national mall to see the monuments and attended Butler’s game against George Washington University. While seeing the sights, the dogs were repeatedly recognized by the locals.

“When we would be out and about on the street, the D.C. residents knew who the dogs were. You expect to get that type of respect in Indianapolis,” Kaltenmark said. “In D.C., they knew that they were the Butler dogs, and this wasn’t just one time.”

Blue II and Trip also had the chance to visit the National Public Radio headquarters to be a part of its new campaign, “I Heart NPR.”

Along with famous musicians and actors also involved with the campaign, the dogs had a glamorous photo to show their support for NPR.

“These handsome devils were itching to show their NPR love,” wrote Caitlin Sanders in her campaign blog. “So excited, in fact, that they could barely sit still!”

At the game, as Blue II strutted around the court, George Washington fans were enthralled with Butler’s live mascots.

Many fans wanted to meet Blue II and get a picture. Blue II even had a famous fan eager to meet him.

Luke Russert, son of Tim Russert and an NBC news correspondent, jumped at the chance to get a picture with Blue II and even tweeted the picture.

This trip showed the national recognition that Blue II and Trip are beginning to gain.

“On one circumstance, yes, I am little bit surprised,” Kaltenmark said. “But once I see the pictures of the Butler bulldogs and the Georgetown bulldogs together, then it doesn’t surprise me that the outlets want it and the fans want to see them.”

The Big Dawgs Tour has taken Butler’s bulldog mascots to Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Louisville, Nashville, Dayton and Columbus, according to the tour’s webpage on www.butlerblue.com.

With the D.C. attention the dogs received, Kaltenmark is looking forward to taking Blue II and Trip to visit the Big Apple this weekend. Although it is a busy city, Blue II and Trip will likely be noticed.

Many Butler University professors, staff members and students have departed from the university in its 158-year history.

However, the school will be replacing a unique individual in March: Butler Blue II.

The nearly nine-year-old bulldog will pass on his duties as a live mascot to Trip in about a month.

Michael Kaltenmark, director of web marketing communications and handler of both live mascots, said he knew Blue II was nearing retirement at this time last year.

“He’s served admirably for so long, and he deserves to take a break,” Kaltenmark said.

Blue II’s retirement has less to do with his overall health than his age in general. Bulldogs have an average lifespan of eight to 12 years.

Trip will take on Butler’s live mascot responsibilities in Blue II’s wake. Kaltenmark said Trip has been able to get more experience than Blue II did when he was a puppy.

Butler University’s got back.

The LIVESTRONG cycling event 24 Hours of Booty is taking place at Butler for the first time, beginning June 29 at 7p.m. to raise awareness and support for LIVESTRONG and local cancer organizations.

Weaving through the Butler campus and Tarkington neighborhood, the 3.5-mile loop was designed to allow participants to ride as far as they wish.  While 24 Hours of Booty is an all-day biking event, participants do not have to ride for the 24 hours.

“Some participants are just coming out of treatment, and they maybe ride one lap,” executive director Basil Lyberg said. “Then you have someone trying to ride a hundred laps.  Each participant is celebrated equally.”

Bikers of all ages are able to participate in the non-competitive charity event. Lyberg said 24 Hours of Booty is a family event with much more than just biking.  There will be a festival complete with food, an expo area featuring sponsors and products, a children’s play area and a DJ.

Lyberg said the area where the festivities take place is called “Bootyville.”

Out of the entire Indianapolis area, Butler was specifically chosen to host the biking event.

Lyberg said the Butler community has been very supportive of the event and the mission of cancer awareness.  When it came time to find a location for the event, Butler was chosen by popular demand.

“Everyone kept telling me that we had to have it at Butler,” Lyberg said. “They said Butler has a beautiful campus and a great community, and the university will embrace something like this. They were exactly right.”

In addition to participants and spectators, two furry Butler residents will also be in attendance.  Director of web marketing communications and caretaker for Blue II and Trip, Michael Kaltenmark said both dogs will make an appearance at 24 Hours of Booty.

“We’ll be there for the kick-off of the event,” Kaltenmark said. “We want to reinforce the Butler presence and be a good host.  We will probably also make a lap through Bootyville.”

Kaltenmark said Blue II and Trip might ride the biking loop in their wagon depending on the decency of the weather.  While bad weather would prohibit the wagon ride, Kaltenmark said both dogs would still welcome all riders and participants.

In addition to bringing crowd-pleasers Blue II and Trip to the event, Kaltenmark said he also worked behind the scenes to help organize the event by recruiting participants and volunteers.

“I encourage anyone who is interested in cycling or passionate about helping to spread cancer awareness to take part in 24 Hours of Booty,” Kaltenmark said.
The event will take place on June 29-30 at Butler.

In order to participate, there is a $50 registration fee as well as a fundraising minimum of $200 for all participants.  Registration and more information are available online.

Butler Blue II and Trip are not the only related top dogs that work in the same office—several of Butler’s top administrators have spouses or domestic partners on the university payroll.

Butler’s practice of hiring its employees’ partners—including those of the university’s president, former provost, two associate provosts and a dean—is consistent with trends in higher education, Marcia Dowell, director of university relations, said.

At Butler, following the trend—36 percent of U.S. academics are couples­—meant the hiring of a university relations associate, a political science instructor, visiting professor, an associate director of pre-professional studies and a multimedia coordinator.

Dowell said these positions needed to be filled at Butler in order to serve students.

The Board of Trustees approved hiring First Lady Bethanie Danko as the university relations associate, which she said is a big role with a modest salary.

“It is indeed a demanding professional position with a schedule nearly as busy as that of the leading spouse,” Bethanie Danko said.

Her schedule includes fundraising, advancement, communication and event planning, along with appearance requests, including recently helping with Blue II’s birthday party.

Former First Lady Suzanne Fong was not on the university payroll.

Bethanie Danko also worked with Jim Danko at Villanova University before their 2010 marriage.

At the Villanova School of Business, Jim Danko was the dean, and Bethanie Danko was the assistant dean for marketing and strategy.

In order to preserve continuity in a trailing spouse’s career, it also is good practice to hire loved ones as long as all university employees follow human resources policies, Elaine Johnson, director of compensation and organizational development, said.

“It’s within the best interest of the institution to help a trailing spouse find employment,” Johnson said. “I certainly can’t say it’s a bad idea.”

Is the payroll bloated with unnecessary positions in order to satisfy the desire to support partners?

“Whether they are created for anyone specifically, there’s no way anyone can say,” Johnson said.

The university is required to publicly advertise its full-time position openings, Johnson said, which it does on Career Builder.

But if positions are contract or adjunct positions, Butler does not ordinarily post job openings, Dowell said.

The university denied The Collegian’s requests for the once-public position advertisements.

The policies that Butler has in place that relate to inter-institution couples include a conflicts of interest policy and consensual relationships policy.

The conflicts of interest policy states that conflicts could arise when an employee evaluates or has direct or indirect control over the work or performance of his or her romantic partner.

Johnson said the human resources office currently is in the process of reviewing its policies in order to make sure they are updated and being followed.

Despite the high number of spouses and domestic partners who are on the payroll, Johnson said she is not aware of any complaints from the rest of the university about this practice.

The human resources management office is open to hearing from all individuals about complaints, she said.

“We’re not here to police the university,” Johnson said. “We have to depend on other individuals to make us aware when there might be things happening in the university that are against policy.”

Bethanie Danko said she hasn’t noticed any conflicts of interest while working with her husband at Butler.

“It’s been a non-issue,” she said. “Although we often discuss issues with each other and voice our opinions on the pros and cons, I wouldn’t characterize this kind of dialogue as presenting any divergent or conflicting interests.”