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U.I. Dialogue narratives |
RetireTheChief
The following is the transcript of a Foellinger balcony narrative from April 14, 2000. It is an unedited excerpt from the original Chief dialogue document.
MS. FELICIA GRAVES: My name is Felicia Graves. I am a fourth year senior at the University and this summer I plan to be a summer orientation leader. I think that is really important because I have to talk with students about the issue of Chief Illiniwek, because of course I am sure it's going to be raised. And it pains me to have to tell students that we have an image such as Chief Illiniwek which is representative of Native American peoples. No longer in the US do we have such blatant racial symbols of other peoples, but Native American such as Washington Redskins, the Atlanta Braves and Chief Illiniwek, things like that are very detrimental to the self-esteem of Native Americans and it makes a caricature of their history.Although certain students may say, well it's not racist, I fail to realize how those students can feel that if they haven't themselves been the victim of racism or if their peoples have subjugated to the point that Native Americans have been. We don't have many images of Native Americans in our culture today. And the ones that we do have are very offensive. And very stereo- typical. And if this is the case, then I really feel like they should be removed. I feel as though the campus is divided along this issue. And if that is the case, then what's the point of keeping it?
Also, as an ethnic minority, I find it really offensive that as the Native Americans have been speaking now, we have had other Native American peoples come in to speak about the fact that it is offensive to them, why is the University continuing to use this symbol. It's been continuing for the past 75 years. I think in the year 2000, we need to become a little bit more open-minded and listen to the people. I just say this is what we have been doing, this is tradition, this is what we need to have. Sambo was a tradition, Frito Bandito was a tradition, doing things to people based upon their ethnic minority racial group, whatever, has been a tradition.
So we have gotten rid of all of those things, why do we still have the Chief symbol. Whether it's a mascot or not, it's a symbol which speaks about people's race. And it's offensive to them. So I think we need to get rid of it.
Also, I think the University needs to look at the low enrollment of Native Americans at this University and kind of think about why would a Native American student want to attend this University if they have these negative images perpetuating, we have to face them. People painting their faces, chief regalia or paraphernalia such as toilet paper, the boxers, things that you sit on at a football game, blankets, things like that are offensive to people and as a nonNative American person, I can still definitely identify with them as a racial and ethnic minority and I would say that would I find that offensive if it was done to me.
In short, I would just like to say that I hope the Board of Trustees and the administration would just open their hearts and their eyes and listen to the Native American people that have come to speak today and listen to the hurt and pain they have experienced from this symbol. Maybe they can just see from another person's perspective that the Chief symbol is painful and maybe they ought to rethink its use. Thank you.
See the U.I. Dialogue on Chief Illiniwek page for more transcripts and information.