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.

Now I have been listening to speakers pretty much throughout the afternoon and in the early morning. I have heard both sides, pro-Chief and the anti side and I believe that, it's split down the middle. I think there are a lot of students who think the Chief is a symbol of pride and a lot of people who believe on the anti side that it is discriminatory and racist sign. That there is so much right with this University but it symbolizes a past where white settlers destroyed a culture that was rich in heritage. And I personally believe that there is no middle ground. And I also believe there is no correct solution.

I believe that if you pick one side or the other, you cannot appease both sides. You cannot appease the side of the pro-Chief because they will want to keep that symbol. But you always have the anti side coming up saying it is a racist symbol, it is a symbol of hate, discrimination and then you cannot appease the anti side because the pro side will say this is our symbol. This symbolizes everything this University means has done and is said.

Now, the symbol of pride, now if that symbol is gone, I would still be proud to graduate from this University. I would be proud to have an education with the University of Illinois and a diploma. I would love to go to the law school at this University in four years when I graduate. But this symbol to me is not a symbol of pride. It is a symbol basic and pure.

Now, there are symbols like Washington Bullets many years ago decided that the symbol of a bullet was not proper for your organization, they changed it to the Washington Wizards. I think the University must follow this same action. I think that the University should change the name of the mascot.

It should get rid of the dance, because I don't think that it enriches the heritage of Native Americans. I think it almost, it surely mocks it, if not, it's very much a racist, because it doesn't teach us about the Native American culture. It has a white gentleman in an Indian outfit dancing around, prancing in front of crowds, trying to get them energized. I don't think that's a way to teach students at this University about Native Americans and about the culture.

I think if we want to teach them about the culture of the Native Americans, we must take classes with them, we must take classes, like we are supposed to take classes in western civilization and minority courses provided by the University of Illinois. I think that if we are to keep on this track, that we just segregate the school further.

Eight years ago there was a group of Latin American students who took over the Henry Administration Building protesting problems at LaCosta, about their hierarchy, and about how they had a director and a vice director who was not helping forward their goals. Now that ended extremely unpleasantly when police ordered by the University, ordered by the Board of Trustees, stormed the building with tear gas and illegal stun guns and tasers. I looked this up and I have looked at the law and the law specifically states, the use of tasers and stun guns is illegal, especially by the police. And I believe that actions such as this will continue and I think that if we want to prevent this type of problems occurring at this University, problems like this, we should stop. Thank you.

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