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UIUC dialogue - April, 2000 |
RetireTheChief
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The online U.I. Intake Session and Narrative material is within particularly large, formatted files. For this reason, they have probably not been read by many in our community. To make them more accessible, RetireTheChief.org has made the transcripts from each speaker available below. These excerpts are the full text or transcript; nothing has been edited or omitted.
Click on any speaker's name below to see their full statement.
| • Anti-Chief listings |
• Pro-Chief listings |
• Alphabetical speaker list |
Listing of Anti-Chief speakers
| Speaker | Excerpt |
|---|---|
| MS. ANNI-FRIDSANTOS | "disappointing to see that such a symbol that is supposed to unify a college has separated it more than unified it" |
| JULIAN B | "if it was us taking your cross ... and using it like the tomahawk chop, it would be a different story" |
| MS. BROOKE ANDERSON | "racist tradition, inaccurate portrayal and inappropriate use... constitute indisputable reasons ... to immediately discontinue use of Chief Illiniwek" |
| MS. MEGAN BANG | "it's kind of like like asking a black person during slavery ... you shouldn't feel bad about being a slave" |
| MR. TOM BASSETT | "The contradiction between the University's mission of increasing student awareness of [diversity] ... and the perpetuation of stereotypes that demean native peoples should be apparent to one and all" |
| MS. IMANI BAZZELL | "Stereotype and racism cannot be reformed ... proposing to reform the Chief is like proposing to reform slavery" |
| MS. BLACKER | "Chief Illniwek mascot degrades ... Native Americans as human beings. Chief Illiniwek mascot perpetuates ignorance of my Native American culture" |
| MR. MARK BUTCHER | "It's time for all of us to look at our heritage and to begin to understand the importance of having a mutual respect for each other" |
| MS. GWEN CARR | "The University of Illinois and the students who come here need to come to a place that is racism free ... can learn about life ... their academics .. what is good and true and real" |
| MS. VANESSA CASILLAS | "When I see mascots being used to represent a race, it tells me that Native Americans are seen as a nonexistent race, our culture open to be taken up as a hobby. " |
| MR. DEAN COOK | "U of I's mascot ... has never educated me about the indigenous people in general or the Illini in specific. There's been a lot of rhetoric ... about this mascot being an educational tool. " |
| REVEREND JAKE CRAMER-HEUERMAN | "I am an alumnus ... I am a donor to this University ... I am a member and officer in one of the booster clubs ... and I believe that it's time to retire Chief Illiniwek" |
| MS. CYD CRUE | "No one seems to notice that this symbol teaches non-Native children disrespect. That it is okay to use other cultures and religions for fun." |
| MR. WAYNE CRUE | "Chief Illiniwek is painful and dehumanizing to my people. It hurts to see Illinois sports fans all over the community desecrate my religion by wearing turkey feathers ..." |
| MS. REBECCA CRUMMEY | "the representation by the Chief does not encourage people who have witnessed the dance to learn more about Native Americans or help them gain justice, rather, it is seen mainly as a form of entertainment." |
| MR. DAVID ANDERSON | "You are going to need to be able to look your children in the eyes in the future and tell them that you upheld humanity not a symbol of the alumni dollar. " |
| MR. CHAD DANIEL | "I feel a deep sense of anger and humiliation that the University supports and publicly parades its representation of native people through Chief Illiniwek. |
| MS. TAMARA DANIEL | "...where are your morals? I don't understand how you can look in the mirror and support something that causes shame and pain for so many people. " |
| MR. NORMAN DENZIN | "I believe that the use of the Chief as a mascot has serious educational consequences for this campus. It compromises the intellectual mission of this great University." |
| MS. NANCY DETERS | "if you have respect and you are doing something that hurts them and they tell you that and they ask you to stop, then you stop. It's that simple." |
| MR. CHRIS DREW | "Our values and beliefs have taken center stage for your ridicule, your flagrant remarks and your total lack of regard for our ways of life as exemplified by your mascot." |
| MS. LINDA DUKE | "This is a teaching opportunity of great magnitude. I demand that the University of Illinois rise to this task and teach peace, compassion, humility and the value of diversity. " |
| MR. ROBERT DUNN | "please, the Board of Trustees, this University needs to wake up, this Hollywood, this ridiculous Hollywood stuff needs to go. This isn't the 1920s anymore" |
| MR. BRUCE TWO EAGLES | "I can tell you about how dishonored I am, but you have heard it from a thousand people. How many minority people have to tell you they are offended before you are going to say this is racism?" |
| MR. HENRY EMERLE | "It is clear from the testimony of Native Americans and community members today that the Chief is both a historic and continuing societal discrimination and honors no one. " |
| MR. ANDY ERICKSON | "Chief supporters don't see anything wrong with it, but they are not the ones being mocked every time the Chief prances. Every major Native American organization has denounced our mascot. Doesn't that bother you? " |
| MS. BRENDA FARNELL | "This issue is about diversity, whether this institution unintentionally educates the young people of this state in ways that perpetuate ignorance and intolerance for cultural differences " |
| MR. BELDEN FIELDS | "I am asking you to recognize that universalistic respect for other people ought to be the hallmark of any educational institution. And to put an end to the shameful violation of human rights " |
| MS. KATERI GARCIA | "As a founder of Northwestern's first annual diversity conference, I can't understand any institution supporting racism like this institution is doing right now. " |
| MS. MONICA GARRETON | " We are angry because we do not want reputable faculty and gifted students to reject teaching or attending UIUC because we are known as racists here." |
| MR. ARVIN GEE | " I went to the first basketball game and I was completely mortified when I saw the student who was playing the Chief came out prancing around ..." |
| MS. ELAINE GEHRMANN | "We cannot always know the meaning of a sacred object or symbol based upon our own knowledge or experience. We often need to look to the particular religious group in order to discover the meaning and significance of a religious item or ritual." |
| MS. ALMA GOTTLIEB | "Like other failed symbols, our school mascot is actively turning off more and more of its observers, not only in our school community, but increasingly beyond our campus and beyond Illinois. " |
| MS. FELICIA GRAVES | "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 ... We don't have many images of Native Americans ... and the ones that we do have are very offensive. " |
| MR. DANIEL GREEN | " I can't think of anything more antithetical for an institution of education or for anyone who has compassion for their fellow beings to perpetuate" |
| MS. ROXIE GRIGNON | "I am a Menominee ... I pray every day and I teach my children to pray ... for the decision that you know as Board of Trustees you need to make on this issue " |
| MR. NICK GUROFF | "We are getting into an issue where white culture ... is imposing its views upon a minority culture. It is deciding what is respectable and what is honorable for other cultures in this country " |
| MR. MICHAEL HANEY | "I have been asked to represent the 478 tribes in the United States ... on record and saying that they want Chief Illiniwek to be abolished. They think it's racist, it encourages racial stereotyping. " |
| MS. CATHY HARPER | "I have noticed that at these meets there are hundreds of people walking across mats with a Native American's face on the floor. " |
| MR. MATT HARSH | "This is real racism. People are angry. People have said, similar to what happened to African Americans and similar to what happened to so many cultures in the past, it's just because Native Americans don't have a representation. " |
| MS. NEENA HEMMADY | "What if? What if the University of Illinois mascot was the Pope. What if the Pope was doing an acrobatic half-time dance for entertainment to an audience of non-Catholics? ... and turned into a commodity so that this figure could show up on shirts and toilet paper? " |
| NANCY HENNE | " I don't agree with the idea of the mascot because he is wearing Sioux regalia, which is a sacred thing to us. It's not to be made fun of, it's part of our religion. " |
| MR. PAUL HIXSON | "This really is a case where it's truly that simple, folks. Which one of you would like to have your entire cultural heritage supposedly summed up in a half-time ceremony? " |
| MR. FREDERICK HOXIE | "Native Americans find the University's insistence on maintaining its mascot or symbol in the face of their protests humiliating. American Indian students, educators and community leaders have made their feelings clear. " |
| MS. LISA JOHNSON | "Supporters of Chief Illiniwek have proudly claimed ... they mean no harm in maintaining the Chief ... The problem is that intentions are not what determines the degree to which something is acceptable." |
| MR. RONALD JORDAN | "I have nothing against using the term and the symbol Illiniwek for the University for the ball teams. What I have is against this mascot. " |
| MR. STEPHEN KAUFMAN | "More than ten years ago Charlene Teters stood alone before crowds of sports fans with a simple sign that read Indians are people, not mascots. Then and now, that truth is self-evident and it is nonnegotiable, sir. " |
| MS. CASSANDRA KEGLER | "The real issue for the U of I board is money. It is not a symbolic value of Chief Illiniwek that is important. It's not an intangible sense of pride but rather the very tangible donations of alumni" |
| MS. LORI KINGERY | "I am an alumni of the University, that is something at this point I am not proud of. You know, I would like to be proud of that. " |
| MS. KIMBERLY KRINACH | "So I guess I just want to ask you to please listen to the native voices. Not the voices of people who say they honor, because they are not in a position to judge that. Because they are not Native American." |
| MR. CARL KRON | "I have been told ... the Chief is simply a revered symbol and not a mascot ... But however, when the symbol leaves the paper and turns into a three-dimensional form, that is in my view a mascot." |
| MS. ROSALYN LaPIER | "when students enter the University of Illinois, they learn that the University officially sanctions and endorses a mascot, a symbol capitalizing on people who are different from themselves." |
| MS. NORA LLOYD | "Lastly, using Chief Illiniwek, which is essentially a caricature of the Native American, as a merchandising gimmick is the ultimate insult. What honor is there in misappropriating a people's identity for a profit." |
| MS. LYNDA LONG-FAINTER | "We express ourselves in dance and music which Chief Illiniwek does not portray. It is a mockery for the University to retain Chief Illiniwek. " |
| MR. LEONARD MALATERE | "I am an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribe of the Flat Headed Indian reservation in Northwestern Montana ... my heart is heavy, because what, because of this ongoing issue of the Chief Illiniwek and other sports organizations who use Native American mascots. " |
| MS. JANNA McGREGOR | "The Chief, in many Native's societies, holds the revered role of a political and spiritual leader. To take that role and to turn it into a vehicle of entertainment at a half-time show is an insult. " |
| MR. DURANGO MENDOZA | "I have personally experienced through my children some of the hurts that have befallen them because of this mascot. " |
| MS. MEG MINER | "If the University's chief is intended as an honor, why is his likeness plastered on portable toilets on game day. " |
| MR. ROBERT MORGAN | "The question that I wish to raise to you today is who are we to judge, who am I or you to decide what is or isn't offensive to a tribe of Native Americans. " |
| MS. BEVERLY MOSER | "The idea that Chief Illiniwek honors the Native Americans, again I feel it comes from a lack of knowledge about who we are as Native American people. " |
| MS. YVONNE MURRY | "when Indians dance, what they are doing essentially is offering their prayers to God or to the spirits around us. And I don't think that is the spirit or the intent of Chief Illiniwek. It's more in the spirit of school spirit. " |
| MS. SHERRY NAANES | "I have also had personal experiences with harassment by fellow workers for my stance against the Chief. And have learned my job is easier to deal with if I just keep quiet." |
| MS. DANIELLE OSLER | "a symbol that is chosen for the University should be one that is unifying to everyone and that is inclusive to all and that brings school spirit and love for the University " |
| MS. PAULA OSTROVSKY | "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." |
| MR. ANUJ PARIKH | "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..." |
| MR. PAYNE | "this Chief issue is part of the school's affirmative action program, because they believe that they are doing good. But they are not honoring Native people. They are hurting Native people. " |
| MR. JOE PERALEZ | "I saw this person five years ago dancing, that was not a dance. It was very offensive. " |
| MS. APRIL PIERCE | "So, keep the symbol but lose the Chief. So the University would still be called the Fighting Illini and have the symbol, but by getting rid of the half-time performance ..." |
| MS. DIANNE PINDERHUGHES | "Having grown up in Washington and having dismissed the problems associated with this in terms of the Redskins ... I came to understand how problematic and how devastating these symbols can be... " |
| MR. DINO POLLOCK | "As a man -- as a conscience man of African descent, I find the continued use of the Chief at this University absolutely reprehensible, repulsive, extremely racist " |
| MS. JENNIFER PUTNAM | "It hurts me that my school with my tax dollars are promoting that hurtful symbol. And I agree that we should have something like the prairie fire that can bring us together. " |
| MS. CHRISTINE REDCLOUD | "One of the most common arguments for having and keeping Chief Illiniwek is that he is honoring Native people. On behalf of the American Indian Center of Chicago, I am here to say that we are not -- that you are not honoring us." |
| MS. DEBBIE REESE | "Today, I want to ask that you listen to the Indian voice, the Indian voices in the community of Champaign-Urbana, to the Indian voices that are part of this University. " |
| MR. WILLIAM ROBERTS | "Depression comes from low self-esteem and that low self-esteem comes from seeing our [identify] prancing around a football field. " |
| MS. LINDSAY ROBINSON | "I just listened to a 12-year-old boy have to defend his dignity and his culture, because everywhere he goes the only people in this area know of a Native American is the Chief. That's wrong. " |
| UMEETA SADARANGANI | "I once saw somebody perform in a sari ... it was horrible to watch this because this person didn't know how to wear a sari, didn't know what it meant, pranced around the stage and didn't really have any respect for the culture ... " |
| MR. BRIAN SILVERMAN | "The pro-Chief people have long had a history of willing to say, we will make it more authentic, we will do whatever you think is correct so that the Chief is not demeaning. The opponents of the Chief will have none of it." |
| MR. R.J. SMITH | "I am the proud director of the Urban Natives of Chicago Youth Council, this is a group of young Native Americans ... who have faced the hardships of growing up in [Chicago] life away from their culture and away from their people" |
| MS. CAROL SPINDEL | "Chief Illiniwek is an imaginary Indian ... his performance cannot be traced to any tribal tradition. It comes to us straight from Buffalo Bill and the Wild West show." |
| DIANE REGINA STIMPEL | "when I first came here, there is no other native students ... I found out today it's because of this mascot. And my friends that won't apply to this school because of the mascot." |
| MR. ELI SUZUKOVICH | "I am a Native American ... when I was choosing schools, Urbana was not a choice for me because of this mascot. It is offensive and it is sad that an institution that promotes education cares more about a mascot than, you know, the welfare of its students." |
| MS. CHARLENE TETERS | "We are human beings. We are not mascots or fetishes to be worn by the dominant society. We are human beings." |
| MR. BRYAN THALHAMMER | "I would very much encourage the University to seek elsewhere, to find some other kind of symbol ... Let's put this away and let's all be adult human beings and look at who else stands to hurt from this symbol. " |
| MR. MATT TITTLE | "African Americans are no longer slaves and Native Americans are no longer warriors or sidekicks. To argue that Illiniwek represents tradition is unfounded. Hazing was once traditional but is illegal. " |
| MR. FRANK TRECHSEL | "My personal opinion as an educator is that this is very definitely an educational issue, as well as a moral and ethical issue. I know for a fact that this has had a serious negative impact on the ability of the Linguistics Society to conduct its workshop here" |
| MR. RALPH TRIMBLE | "I am a clinical psychologist and I work with our students ... to many Native Americans and for many other people of color, the Chief symbolizes a white endorsement of continuing racial oppression and cultural disregard. " |
| MS. JANET TUCKER | "No public poll results and no oratorical devices and no outpouring of sentiment can change the fact that a racially offensive entity has no place in a university that celebrates diversity." |
| MS. DESERE UNTOOB | "I really honestly believe that it's a racist symbol. This movement, the Native American movement against racist mascots reminds me of the civil rights movement in the sixties. " |
| MS. SUSAN WEAVER | "Would not one of us be highly upset and outraged at a young person dressed in Roman Catholic cleric garb or Hasidic rabbi clothing, hat and hairlocks or a white person in black face dancing and prancing around the field or gym floor. " |
| MR. WEYLIN WEBSTER WILLIAMS | "First of all, there was no chief among these people hundreds of years ago or as it took place there was no chief upon these people. So how do you create a chief that never existed? " |
| MR. PAUL YOUTH | "If you are going to be recalcitrant and not get rid of this mascot ... the least you can do is start a program for actually studying for what Native Americans are suffering now and have suffered in the past." |
Listing of Pro-Chief speakers
| Speaker | Excerpt |
|---|---|
| MR. RONALD BLACK | "the Chief is an unifying factor amongst the tribe of Illini, which I would define as everyone who has graduated from the University of Illinois" |
| MR. FRED CASH | "It's amazing every Indian tribe that I have heard mentioned today was in fact an enemy of the Illini" |
| MR. ADAM CHADDOCK | "Chief Illiniwek is not a mascot. Rather, the Chief is the symbol of a great University. A mascot runs around the playing field dancing with the cheerleaders" |
| MS. STEPHANIE CORD | "I don't feel personally that Chief Illiniwek is a cartoon. I think it's an honor that can keep the people in Illinois aware of the Indians. " |
| MR. BOB CRAFT | "I think that I would be proud if I were an American native to be represented by such a first class individual as we have had each and every year." |
| MR. MIKE DRISH | "it would be a shame to see an honored and respected symbol ... to be removed due to comments and protests by a cause fought by so few, most of which do not attend this University" |
| MRS. JEAN EDWARDS | "The intent is to honor and appreciate Native American Indians who lived on this land in the State of Illinois. It is not done with any derogatory intention. " |
| MR. ANTHONY ENRIGHT | "The fact that we are represented by a symbol of such great honor as Chief Illiniwek reflects the higher standard to which we hold ourselves at the University of Illinois, and shows we will not settle for anything less than the very best." |
| DR. FRANK JOHNSON | "It's more than likely that most Native Americans would not be disturbed by the Chief ... He represents dignity and honor. " |
| MS. JACQUELINE FRENCH | "growing up for me, I learned that the Chief was something that was a part of Illinois, part of the midwest, part of American history and I am thankful for what this University has taught me" |
| MR. NOBLE GLAUDELL | "The Chief is not a caricature. He is a spirit ... And every time I saw him, it's almost like a religious experience. Hair on the neck stands up and it's every time. " |
| MR. HANK HANNEKEN | "Was the intent of the founders and the Marching Illini band ... to depict the Chief, his people and Native Americans in a demeaning fashion? A study through history clearly show that this was not the intent." |
| MR. ROGER HUDDLESTON | "The most memorable event of that day was at half-time when the crowd that I was a part of rose to their feet and welcomed Chief Illiniwek. Everyone greeted this honored symbol with respect." |
| MR. TODD ISLER | "Chief Illiniwek is a form of expression ... those who are demanding the immediate removal, are the same sort who would demand the removal of those books from this University's library" |
| MR. FRANK KRASNOWSKI | "In fact, the opposition mentioned the North Central, well, if the North Central is to look into anything, they should look into intimidation on the part of the anti-Chief people. Thank you. " |
| MR. RICK LEGUE | "When the Three-In-One music began, when I was Chief, I left my personna ... I could have been Henry Kissinger ... That's what it's all about. Portraying a spirit. And a symbol with dignity and honor. " |
| MR. JOHN MADIGAN | "Fancy dancing is very popular in Native American circles today. It is largely designed to show the outside world the beauty of Native American dance while not limiting the special religious ceremonies. " |
| MR. JOHN MAMMINGA | "because of this Indian heritage, it is only meaningful and appropriate for the University of Illinois, the flagship academic institution of this great state, to be represented by the dignified symbolism of Chief Illiniwek. " |
| MR. JOHN MENEES | "regardless of what else has been said here today, the Chief is not only a symbol of this University, but he's also a symbol of our state. " |
| MR. MICHAEL MONDELLI | "My job at half-time is to transmit that type of spirit to the fans. I believe that Chief Illiniwek does transmit the spirit of the Fighting Illini. And inspires spirit, pride and loyalty to this great University" |
| MS. DAWN NEISEN | "Chief Illiniwek, the honorable and dignified symbol of the University of Illinois. I will never forget the first time my eyes witnessed the Chief during his half-time performance at a men's basketball game. " |
| MR. MICHAEL O'BYRNE | "I would like to suggest that I believe that the people who have been talking about retiring the Chief are mistaken. I realize they are sincere in their belief, but I believe they are mistaken. " |
| MR. MATTHEW PYLES | "the anti-Chief people say that this actually makes people racist ... where in my case, it has actually drawn me closer to other cultures. " |
| MS. LEANNE REETZ | "One argument that I will not accept from the anti-Chief supporters is that I am racist for supporting the Chief. How can admiration and respect and reverence be racism. " |
| MS. LAURA SCHMITT | "I urge the anti-Chief activists to listen to what supporters of the Chief are saying. The Chief is not a mascot ... I like thousands of others respect him and take pride in all that he represents. " |
| MRS. AGNES SIMMS | "The costume that the Chief wears and the dance that he does reminds me of the costumes and the dance that my husband and I saw on Second Mesa, Arizona" |
| MR. WAKELAND | " I represent the save the Chief organization ... I firmly believe the Chief is an honorable symbol that brings respect and honor to the University and to the heritage of the Illinois tribe" |
Full listing, alphabetical by speaker
See the U.I. Dialogue on Chief Illiniwek page for more transcripts and information.