At the University of Wyoming’s football game this past Saturday in Laramie, the crowd was shown a propaganda video for all to see. In it, President Donald Trump applauded Wyoming and its coal industry — an industry he’s already been propping up in his less than a year in office. Trump has expanded the federal lands available for coal mining, which sounds good on the surface and appears to be something to benefit the people in this state, but neglects to mention the harm this will do to the regular Joe of Wyoming, increasing energy bills and increasing dangerous air pollution.
Opinion
While the federal government remains shut down, affecting millions of Americans, UW apparently thought it could boost morale by showing a video promoting coal. Yet every expansion of this industry stands to harm Wyomingites, not to mention the recent blow Trump dealt to the state’s cattle industry.
Watching this video felt like being in a scene from The Hunger Games. It comes only weeks after the university led a stadium-wide moment of silence for Charlie Kirk. If we’re pausing to honor divisive extremists, why aren’t we also taking moments of silence for the children lost in school shootings, for innocent Black people lynched, or for others killed in acts of political violence?
As an alumna and current graduate student at the university, I’m not coming to the football games in Laramie to watch any administration’s propaganda. I am coming to these games to support my state and my college’s football team, and to have a good time. Judging by the near-instant eruption of boos throughout the stadium, it’s clear I’m not alone in feeling this way. Although there were also plenty of people cheering, this kind of division is not what I expect — or want — at community events meant to bring Wyomingites together.
By playing videos like this, the university is signaling to students, faculty, staff, fans and the community that the university is not a neutral establishment where everyone belongs and is welcome.
I am deeply disappointed and embarrassed to be a student at the University of Wyoming right now. It’s disheartening to see the university promote divisive, extremist messages at events meant to unite our community — especially at a time when division already runs deep across the country.
After reading all these cry baby comments I think if you are a UW grad and a WY resident you need to give up your degree and citizenship and oh let’s say move to New York
You are a clown sir.. 🤡
It was sicking to watch and you couldn’t escape.I wonder what the university paid him for that? You know he doesn’t do anything for free.
Barrasso behaved like a child trying to get in his daddy’s good graces. Pathetic trump bootlicker.
I sincerely hope that Sancho Panza—or Senator Barrasso— or someone with the patience of Job had the good sense to carefully explain to that senior señor with a nuclear football that the Border War is not an actual armed territorial dispute between the state of Wyoming and the state of Colorado…
I agree 💯 with this opinion stated above. Why coal? Black uniforms? Barrasso, Lummis and the Hag are clowns.
That video was the one smudge on an otherwise stellar game-day experience as a UW student and Cowboys fan. Needless to say, Orange boy got the one-fingered salute I usually reserve for bad ref calls.
Lifelong Pokes fan and CSU hater but at least the Rams have my respect as rivals. F Trump and f ICE. The only Border War Wyoming needs is us beating the Sheep.
I couldn’t agree more. Thank you a for a fine editorial. Sporting events are not the place or time for political messages of any kind, but especially by this administration. I agree with other commenters…this man has no interest in the people of Wyoming or any other state, regardless of voter majority. He has exactly one agenda and it certainly doesn’t involve caring for anyone but himself.
I quite agree with your comment and with Ms. Nyffler’s opinion piece. Wyoming, and UW, deserve better than this, and that includes, among other things, camaraderie without propaganda at sporting events.
While I understand the frustration expressed about the University of Wyoming showing the video, I see it differently. Highlighting the coal industry and President Trump’s message was not necessarily “propaganda” but rather a recognition of an industry that has long been central to Wyoming’s identity and economy. Coal, oil, and natural gas have supported countless families across the state for generations, and the acknowledgment of that contribution shouldn’t automatically be viewed as divisive. The video can be interpreted as honoring Wyoming’s workforce—many of whom are alumni or parents of current students—and showing pride in the industries that built our communities.
Furthermore, universities should be places that expose students to diverse viewpoints, even those that may not align with their personal beliefs. Disagreement is healthy and sparks meaningful dialogue, but censoring messages simply because they’re political or unpopular sets a dangerous precedent. The goal shouldn’t be to eliminate every message that might cause discomfort but to engage critically with them. Instead of seeing the video as a form of manipulation, we could see it as an opportunity for students and faculty to discuss the complex relationship between energy, economy, and environment—issues that are highly relevant to Wyoming’s future.
While I’ll agree with most of what you said Kenton, especially the part about universities being a place where students can experience many diverse viewpoints, how can cheering for a president and his administration, that’s trying their damnedest to remove that very thing from every campus, be viewed as a positive thing? People in this country need to tell this administration, and especially this president, that what they’re doing to this country is morally wrong and cheering for him at a football game isn’t the way to do it in my opinion.
As a life long resident and a UW grad I am shocked and embarrassed that such an atrocious and devisive piece of propaganda was forced on Wyoming citizens. Just another example of the divide and conquer strategy of our current President and his misguided lackeys.
Definitely not a good thing for UW sports. Shame on Sen. Barasso and his pals
We really need to be nicer to mr. Barasso.. after all he’s having a really difficult life adjustment- trying to figure out how to attach himself to the rear end of a new senate majority leader after McConnell abandoned ship. The senator is obviously having difficulty dealing with a rear end so much higher off the floor than with little Mitch.. and getting positioned just right while being jostled aside by other senatorial suck ups is clearly tougher than it looks. The look of desperation at being displaced in the fawning lineup is hard to watch. Yet entertaining in its way.
Little Donnie will gladly import coal from Indonesia if the Indonesians flatter him enough.
Thank you, Jessica!
It’s dismaying to me that our electeds continue to support burning coal while the climate change-caused drought desiccates our pastures.
Are we the Cowboy State or the Coal State?
I concur. Senator Barrasso set this Trump propaganda video up. Our sycophantic Senator literally said to Trump ” you will receive a hero’s welcome at UW” for appearing by video in the most pro-Trump state in the Union. Of course the “Big Beautiful Clean Coal” script was undoubtedly provided by said sycophant.
Remember, this is the state that first named its only university football stadium ” War Memorial ” , which was tolerable, but later appended that to Jonah Field to reward our natural gas corporate overlords and their massive 5,000 well Pinedale- Jonah Field gas play , then added luxury box suites called Wildcatter Club Suites.
Further recall that back in 2012 a sculpture on UW grounds named ” Carbon Sink ” illustrating an unmistakable anti-Fossil Fuel theme with black charred logs disappearing back into the Earth’s crust , was aggressively removed. Energy moguls and angry pro-carbon Legislators were miffed.
Disgusting , isn’t it?
Thanks Jessica. I felt the same way as you did when “a special message from president Donald J Trump” was announced. I turned my back to the jumbo tron, and like you, I thought I heard some booing in the crowd…but in deep red Wyoming it could have just been wishful thinking also. I hope I was right that maybe, just maybe, not everyone in The War was thrilled to see that guy.
The University of Wyoming obviously isn’t taking the same approach to this administration’s shake-down tactics as other institutions of higher learning have done. Major universities have chosen to take a stand and say enough is enough, keep your filthy MAGA paws off of higher education rather than bend a knee and kiss the ring like U.W. did on Saturday and when Kirk was murdered. I realize this was “coal appreciation day”, or some foolishness like that, but getting this president, who could care less about Wyoming and the people who live here, to record a phony message was unbelievable. If I was betting on it’s origins, I’d say John Barrasso probably had something to do with it. Like the team’s “special edition” uniforms, I’m not a fan of either.
Thanks again for you opinion Jessica.
Thank you, Jessica, for your comments. I, too, agree. I was enraged when I read about this event. I believe in free speech, but I also choose the speaking events I plan to attend. I don’t need or want politics thrust on me at a public event without my knowledge beforehand. And politics of any kind are not appropriate at a public sporting, musical, theater, art event, etc. Barrasso was completely out of line, in my opinion.
I completely agree. Regardless of your political stance or who the current president is, I don’t want to see them on the video board at a football game. Politics are everywhere these days. Sports have historically been a place we can go to escape them.
I’m sure there were plenty of boos and a few Middle fingers presented in salute to the Rapist in Chief! Totally inappropriate at this sports event and grossly misrepresented by Barrasso.
Thank you for having the courage to speak truth to power
You are so right, thank you for sharing that.