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.

The Chief issue for us is an issue not of specifically of Native American culture, though we find that very important, it's an issue of basic human integrity. With the Chief we are getting into an issue where white culture, as it has in the past 200 years, is imposing its views upon a minority culture. It is deciding what is respectable and what is honorable for other cultures in this country and disregarding a viewpoint that can be very beneficial to not only the dominant culture but to every other minority community in this country. And to choke out that voice with these kinds of images is certainly inconsiderate and unenlightened. Especially for an institution of higher learning. It seems to me that in the span of this issue, those who support the Chief should be most understanding of the Native American plight.

Their attachment specifically to the Chief is the same kind of attachment that these people have to a way of living, a standard of living, a culture that has existed since the beginning of time. And for them not to understand the reverence in which they hold their own self-esteem is simply absurd and inconsiderate of this culture. They have had this sporting tradition for 80 years. These people have had a similar tradition since the beginning of time, since the beginning of recorded history, probably even before white culture was even at the stage of being able to develop a language, much as many other minority cultures that exist in this country today.

So I am here today with a group of Northwestern students and universities across the Big 10 conference represent interests of basic human decency that is being ignored here at the University of Illinois and we hope that Chief Illiniwek will soon be removed as a mascot of this University in the interests of people everywhere and not simply as -- that's all I have to say. Thank you for hearing me.

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