Posted on 11/15/2003 8:23:57 PM PST by SaveTheChief
U of I trustee tables retirement resolution; lack of support cited
November 14, 2003
By JOHN SUPINIE
of Copley News Service
CHAMPAIGN - Chief Illiniwek lives. But he's still facing high-level opposition in the latest fight that involves the American Indian mascot at the University of Illinois.
During Thursday's board of trustees meeting at the Illini Union, Frances Carroll withdrew her resolution to retire the Chief but said she would reintroduce it in March. Carroll, whom Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed to the board earlier this year, said she decided to pull the agenda item at 3 a.m. Thursday after she determined the votes needed for the change weren't there.
"It's political," Carroll said. "I feel strongly about racist symbols. In the day and age that we live, we can't have this kind of symbol because of the diversity of our country. That's the only issue. I'm confident I can get the votes back."
Earlier, Carroll had said she could get the votes necessary to end the Chief Illiniwek tradition that began in 1926. She would have needed five votes Thursday, a majority of the nine voting board members present at the meeting.
Carroll's resolution called for retiring the Chief and the copyright American Indian-head image used on banners, sweat shirts and other merchandise. Her proposal wouldn't affect the nickname (Fighting Illini) of the school's athletic teams.
Chief supporters, some wearing school colors or shirts that depicted the Indian-head logo, cheered. Others in attendance shouted "coward" after Carroll announced the withdrawal of the agenda item.
In a hallway after the meeting, university Chancellor Nancy Cantor would not say if she supports the elimination of Chief Illiniwek, but her actions showed she's working behind the scenes to influence the change.
She met with members of Progressive/Resource Action Cooperative, an anti-Chief group, and hugged Stephen Kaufman, a university science professor who has been a vocal opponent of the Chief.
"I feel for the future of this campus that this divisive issue be put to rest and we move forward and do the great work of a great public institution, which is to train future citizens for this great multiracial society," Cantor said.
"We need to be working as hard as possible for an inclusive and welcoming environment where different perspectives and experiences in life can be brought together and be a beacon for change."
Cantor appeared visibly shaken after the meeting.
The board is composed of nine trustees appointed by the governor, and three student trustees. Only one student trustee votes. The governor also has a vote.
The changing face of the board - in 2003, Blagojevich appointed four trustees - helped lead to speculation Carroll had the needed votes.
Niranjan Shah, the board's only minority trustee besides Carroll among nine appointed by the governor, didn't attend the meeting.
Usually held in a small lounge, the board meeting was moved to a larger ballroom, where almost 500 people attended. Members of the Orange Krush student group sang "Oskee-Wow-Wow,'' "March of the Illini'' and "Hail to the Orange," then chanted "Keep the Chief" for almost five minutes before the meeting began.
After Carroll's announcement, a group of protesters rushed to the front of the room, raised a banner and shouted: "BOT. Shame on You."
Kaufman criticized the lack of action when he stopped Carroll in the hallway. "We're back where we started 15 years ago," Kaufman said.
Replied Carroll: "I hope not."
During an appearance Thursday in Chicago, Blagojevich tried to steer clear of the Illiniwek issue by saying the decision is up to the board. Generally, he said, racial stereotyping in athletic teams is an issue worthy of discussion.
"I've never been to a University of Illinois football game," the governor said. "I'm told they give the governor tickets and he gets good seats. I've just been so busy, I haven't had a chance to go there. So I don't know what (Chief Illiniwek) does at these games."
Board chairman Lawrence Eppley said that fact no vote was taken meant the board's earlier pro-Chief stance remained. But those who lobbied Thursday were hoping for a vote.
"We're going to continue on," said Roger Huddleston, a Mahomet resident and president of Honor the Chief Society, which backs the Chief. "We're not stopping. This is the first day in the rest of the adventure. I don't know that there's any destination in sight."
The Chief dances at basketball, football and volleyball games.
The first known protest of the Chief was documented in the school's 1975 yearbook. In 1981, the school copyrighted the Chief logo. But by the end of the decade, the Chief was under fire.
In 1991, the Student Government Association passed a resolution calling for the retirement of Chief Illiniwek.
I am probably going to be at the football game against Northwestern next weekend and now I have to wonder if it will be my last opportunity to see the chief.
PC is running amok, and will ruin our country.
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