The following transcript is from the 4/14/00 Chief Illiniwek dialogue "intake session". It is an unedited excerpt from the original U.I. document.

You have shown time and time again that you don't care. There's why there was a Native American crying here. She said she couldn't come to this University, because she had felt that it was too racist. It wasn't honor that made her cry. It was racism. And I am not saying it's blatant racism, I am not saying that you are directly telling her that she is subhuman or that her people are inferior or anything like that. But that's what you imply every time you let the Chief prance around on the football field and every time you tell Native American organizations that you don't want to hear what they have to say.

I know that the Chief isn't supposed to be offensive. But it is. I know that the Chief supporters don't see anything wrong with it, but they are not the ones being mocked every time the Chief prances. Every major Native American organization has denounced our mascot. Doesn't that bother you? I know it bothers them. It bothers them that they are -- that this University is so unwilling to discontinue this mockery of their culture. It makes them cry. Is this honor? The University of Illinois which claims to be so advanced is behind the times. There is no reason why it is more important to keep this mascot than it is to end the humiliation they are causing people.

I know that the University has continually denied that the Chief is racist in any way. They can deny it as much as you want. But the University mascot is still causing pain to the Native American community and it's real pain and it's the pain of racism.

And the pain of racism is a lot more piercing than the pain that will be felt from losing the Chief. I understand the supporter's positions, though it may not seem like it. My father went to school here, my grandfather went to school here. They all loved the Chief. I am sure if my grandfather would hear what I have to say now, he would be very upset. But I know that his pain would go away.

The pain of racism does not go away. It never goes away. The mascot is racist because the Native American community feels it. They know it's racist and other people do too. And you need to do the right thing. I know that you have heard that a bunch. But I think you know what it is. So we are going to keep coming back until either you do the right thing or someone sitting in those chairs who has enough compassion to understand that there is no place for racism at the University of Illinois.

So, I just want to say one more time, I challenge you to find one good reason why it's more important to keep this mascot than it is to end the real humiliation, not honor, that we are causing an entire race of people. Thank you.

See the U.I. Dialogue on Chief Illiniwek page for more transcripts and information.