July 17th, 2005

UI Board Stalls on “Chief Illiniwek” Issue Yet Again
The Illusion of Progress

Today, the University of Illinois Board of Trustees passed yet another resolution to promote the illusion of progress. The “Resolution Concerning Guidelines For Consensus Regarding Chief Illiniwek” formalizes the draft of guidelines passed around by Chairman Eppley at the end of the Board meeting at UIUC on March 10, 2005. This was after six months of nothing—no resolutions, no discussion at Board meetings, no progress on the part of the University in addressing the issue of “Chief Illiniwek.”

Unfortunately, the resolution simply illustrates the misguided goals of the University Board. Chairman Eppley’s first guideline is to “seek consensus.” As many “Chief” opponents have asked in the past, how can there be consensus on this issue that has already divided the campus for 16 years? After Trustee Plummer spent nine months evaluating the possibility of a compromise on the “Chief,” he concluded, “It is abundantly clear that there is no ‘compromise’ available.” If the Board has already stated that compromise is not possible, it is doubtful at best that the Board will resolve the controversy through consensus. In addition, the Board has not contacted any anti-“Chief” supporters to discuss the supposed possibility of consensus.

The second guideline is to “preserve tradition and heritage in concert with the board’s heritage resolution.” But what heritage or tradition does the “Chief” represent? It is simply the University’s tradition, which promotes a stereotype of Native American cultures. Regardless of the intentions of the creators of “Chief Illiniwek,” it does not honor Native Americans. Every national Native American organization has taken a stance against symbols and mascots like the “Chief.” And if the Board wants to talk about tradition and heritage, they are obligated to look at the whole picture—the one that includes the genocide committed against American Indians in the United States, including Illinois. And later the genocide was followed by cultural misappropriation, and the “Chief” is a perfect example of that.

The third guideline is to “retain ‘Illini’ and ‘Fighting Illini’.” It is ironic that this debate is already over in the mind of Chairman Eppley while he leads the Board on this search for a Consensus Conclusion. Whose consensus was included in this decision? No anti-“Chief” supporters were asked to be involved in the creation of the guidelines or in the debate over retaining the name. Nor do we know of any Native Americans who were involved in this process. So if this is simply a consensus of nine Board members, who are not elected by the citizens of Illinois nor accountable to them, that isn’t a consensus at all.

These guidelines range from questionable to inappropriate. The campus remains harshly divided for yet another year, and outside agencies—including the North Central Association (NCA), who accredits the University, and the NCAA—raise serious concerns over the effect of “Chief Illiniwek” on the University. Meanwhile the University of Illinois Board pased a set of shortsighted guidelines about how to seek consensus on the “Chief” controversy. The PRC calls on the Board to stop stalling with its meaningless resolutions. Take a lead from the North Central Association by taking action and doing what is best for the University. Eliminate the “Chief”—the name, dance, and logo—now. It is long past due.

Download the resolution