"M. Bendert '03," May 19, 2006

(Chief opinion: VeryAnti)

It is sad, really, that we are still having this debate, so many years after it started. I'm a UIUC alum, class of 2003, and this was an old, divisive debate when I was a freshman. The University has been through too much, has suffered too much for the sake of the Board of Trustees foolish pride and their stubborn reluctance to drop the Chief as a mascot. This is not a new debate. It's not even a very good one, since the pro-chief lobby continues to lose its battles, and has been losing for over a decade.

The facts are simple. The Chief continues to alienate a significant number of current students, faculty and alumni. We don't want to be from the school with the racist mascot, the university that refused to accept that it has been wrong, that it is hurting its own student body, the community at large and the spirit and reputation of one of the finest educational institutions in the country.

I am ashamed of the actions of my University. UIUC continues to do amazing research and scholarship, but the cloud of racism and bigotry hangs over everything that it does. The Board of Trustees is hurting the reputation of the very institution they have been appointed to administer. I love Illinois sports, I love the University, but the Chief has never been a source of pride or an 'honored tradition' from my college career. Instead, it was and continues to be a sad reminder that U of I can't get over a couple of stupid threats by rich alums to withhold funding. The Board needs to get some integrity and, once and for all, retire the Chief. It has been far too long in coming.

"M. Bendert '03," via the web.