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.

Before I go on, I would like to sort of respond to Mr. Madigan's comments by inviting everybody to go see a real pow-wow on how real Native Americans dance and to really say that what he said is not true. There is a pow-wow at Madison State Park on June 3 and 4 it's near Starved Rock. If you need more information we have people outside who can give it to you.

Before I go on to my prepared comments, I wanted to express my concern, what I see here is that everybody who is speaking for Chief Illiniwek seems to be Caucasian. And people of color and Indian people are the ones objecting. I likewise am objecting to the use of sacred Native American elements in this fashion.

I think the Board and the University have a huge racial problem here. And it's a big racial divide, it's a ticking bomb and if Chief Illiniwek is not done away with, it might explode. And I hope this is addressed soon.

A statement by Bill Murphy on yesterday's Daily Illini affirmed the common ground for everybody involved in this issue is valuing Native Americans and Native American culture. It is clear that those opposed to the University's Indian symbol, logo and name are Native Americans.

Every major national organization representing Native Americans in this country has formally asked sports teams and educational institutions to stop using Native culture and images for entertainment and profit. Clearly indicating that this practice is not perceived as an honor but a blatant disrespect.

The National Congress of American Indians, this is the oldest and largest organization representing Native peoples in this country, have condemned the University specifically in the strongest possible terms for this practice. Today we have representatives from Native organizations throughout the country and state and particularly the Chicago area serving a community of 30,000 plus. A community that is being denied equal access to this educational institution, the flagship University of this state.

Their message once again is stop the mockery, stop degrading Native religion and open your doors to the Native community. Even the direct descendents of the Illini as mentioned before have approved resolutions urging the University to drop the Illini mascot and references. These are not small liberal organizations, students groups or dad's groups. They are sovereign nations whose governments have taken the time to discuss this issue and address it. Ignoring them would be most disrespectful and could not be farther from any intentions to honor Native Americans.

If this is truly the intention of the University, the first step that must be taken is to listen to these nations and Native representatives and ask them how would they like to be honored. I would like to thank Judge Garippo for consulting with the NRSM, which is the organization I am representing, a human rights organization led by prominent labor leaders, when determining the course of action for today.

This is the first time anybody with associated with the University has asked and included Native American input in this controversy. We hope this is just the beginning of a new era of working together to make this institution more inclusive and respectful to Native American and all people of color. I certainly hope that Judge Garippo who was essential in ridding humanity of a monster like John Wayne Gacy, that he will be instrumental in ridding our community of the John Wayne mentality that keeps Native people locked in the past. Thank you.

MODERATOR GARIPPO: We will resume at 1:30. This auditorium will be used as a class. So if you will exit as quickly as possible.

(A recess was taken for lunch, and the intake session continued as follows:)

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