Board Delays Chief Vote

The University of Illinois Board of Trustees (BOT) will apparently not take up the issue of the Chief at their March 11 meeting in Urbana. Although trustee Francis Carroll chose to withdraw her resolution, some trustees had suggested holding off the vote until after a UI "student referendum" on March 16-17, while others had voiced concern at considering the Chief issue while a search was getting underway for a new President and Chancellor.

BOT Press Release

Chief Illiniwek retirement vote postponed
Resolution will not be on March meeting agenda

CHICAGO-University of Illinois Trustee Frances Carroll said she will not reintroduce her motion to retire Chief Illiniwek as the symbol of athletic teams on the Urbana-Champaign campus when the Board of Trustees holds its regularly scheduled meeting on March 11.

"I am a consensus builder, and it is important to me that consensus be reached on this topic before I bring it back to the Board. Therefore, I am withholding the resolution," Carroll said.

Carroll did not set a timeframe for when the Board should act on the Chief.

Chief Illiniwek has been an iconic figure on the Urbana-Champaign campus since 1926. In recent years the Chief's presence has put the University at the center of a debate between those who revere Chief Illiniwek as a symbol of the spirit of the campus and those who consider it anachronistic. The Board of Trustees approved a standing resolution in 1990 to affirm Chief Illiniwek as the symbol of athletic teams on the UIUC campus.

Carroll proposed at the Board of Trustees meeting last November that Chief Illiniwek be retired as the symbol of athletic teams at the Urbana-Champaign campus, but her motion called for retention of the name "Fighting Illini" for the teams. She withdrew the proposed Board resolution, Carroll said, when it became apparent the measure lacked the votes necessary for approval. Carroll indicated at the time she would bring the motion forward again at the Board meeting scheduled for March.

The original resolution
to Retire the Chief

RESOLUTION

"Whereas, Chief Illiniwek has been a treasured symbol of the Urbana-Champaign campus since the inception of Chief Illiniwek in 1926;

Whereas, many students have performed well and ably in the role of Chief Illiniwek;

Whereas, Chief Illiniwek has been intended as a representation of the indigenous people who gave their name to this State and its Flagship University;

Whereas, Chief Illiniwek has represented the dignity, strength, intelligence, and grace to which Illinois athletic teams have aspired;

Whereas, The native Illinois people, the Peoria, requested by resolution on April 20, 2000, that the University discontinue the Chief Illiniwek tradition;

Whereas, The continuation of the controversy centering on Chief Illiniwek would undermine the very unity of the Illini family that the symbol fostered so well for so long; and

Whereas, The controversy also diverts critical attention and resources away from the core missions of teaching, research, service, and economic development; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That Chief Illiniwek be honorably retired at a time and in a manner to be determined by the Urbana-Champaign campus in consultation with faculty, students, staff, alumni, and other members of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign family, and with concurrence of the Board of Trustees;

Resolved, That the University discontinue its use of the graphic image and likewise discourage others' use of that image; and

Resolved, That at the same time we, the Board of Trustees, declare our full support for the name Fighting Illini for the athletic teams at the Urbana-Champaign campus. This is a part of our heritage. We take pride in the association that the University has through this name with the people of Illinois."

Isn't it time to retire the Chief? •

Events: March 1-11

The following are part of the Month of Action.

• Wednesday, Mar. 3: planning meeting at Illinois Disciples Foundation (7:30 pm). Also: acclaimed Native American performer, poet and novelist Sherman Alexie (he wrote the screenplay for Smoke Signals) will appear at the UI campus at 7:30 p.m. at room 100, Materials Science & Engineering building (corner of Mathews and Green).
• Sunday, Mar. 7: Note the show Why the Chief has Got to Go has been postponed.
• Wed-Thu., Mar. 10-11: Protest against Chief Illiniwek (see below).

Anti-Chief Protest
on the U.I. Quad

A large, peaceful protest against the U.I. "Chief Illiniwek" is planned for Wednesday, March 10, in advance of the Board of Trustees meeting in Urbana on Thursday morning. This day-long protest against the Chief, sponsored by the Anti-"Chief" Coalition and leaders from the Chicago Native American Community, will start at noon Wednesday on the University of Illinois "Quad", located behind the Illini Union on Green Street.

Planned events (updated Thu. Mar. 4):

• Noon, Wed. March 10: Prayers and/or pipe ceremonies for 1 hour
• 1:00 p.m. Flag songs for 1 hour
• 2:00 p.m. Press conference
• 4:00 p.m. Open mike for all to voice their opinion until 9:00 p.m.
• 8:00 p.m. Rally against the "Chief"
• 9:00 p.m. Candlelight all night vigil with prayers, singing and storytelling

• 7:30 a.m., Thur. March 11: Prayers
• 8:00 a.m. Flag songs
• 8:30 a.m. BOT members enter their meeting (meeting includes a public comment session)

Directions

The University of Illinois "Illini Union" is at 1401 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL. To get there, take an interstate to reach I-74 on the north side of Champaign-Urbana. Exit at Lincoln Avenue, and drive south until you reach Green Street. Turn right; the Union is on the left (south) side of Green Street between Mathews Ave and Wright St. There is a parking lot a few blocks farther west near the intersection of Sixth Street and Green, and other parking plans are being arranged - updates will be posted here. Click on any map below for an enlarged view.

Some local hotels (all area 217):

• Red Roof: 352-0101 • Microtel Inn: 398-4136 • Travelodge: 328-3521 • Super-8: 384-8000

• La Quinta: 356-4000 • Sleep Inn: 367-6000 • Baymont Inn: 356-8900 • Drury Inn: 398-0030

Feel free to email/contact us with questions.