UI Board Passes Outrageous "Chief" Resolution June 17, 2004 Dear friends, The University of Illinois Board of Trustees met today in Chicago. As you know, Trustees Carroll (supposedly anti-"Chief") and Sodemann (very pro-"Chief") put forward a resolution calling for "a consensus conclusion to the matter of Chief Illiniwek." The resolution was fundamentally pro-"Chief," extolling the virtues and history of "Chief Illiniwek," aiming to placate protestors, not at all deviating from current Board policy, and indefinitely stalling a Board decision. In protest, yesterday dozens of activists from multiple organizations from Champaign-Urbana travelled up to Chicago to join the Chicago Native American community in solidarity against the "Chief." The protest - organized by the Native American Educational Services College - began at Truman College, and concluded with a march to the American Indian Center to protest the Board (who was having dinner at the AIC). The protests denounced the Carroll/Sodemann resolution and called on the Board to immediately eliminate "Chief Illiniwek." This morning, at the Board of Trustees meeting, three white students and former Trustee, Susan Gravenhorst, spoke in favor of "Chief Illiniwek." They spoke of how the "Chief" unified a diverse student body -- much to the disbelief of the scores of students, alum, and community members of color and their allies who attended the meeting to tell the Board how racially divisive and hostile the "Chief" is. Also speaking were Leonard Malatare of the Native American Educational Services College and Kim Cook of the Illinois Native American Bar Association, both of whom called for the immediate removal of "Chief Illiniwek" and decried the suggestion of compromising on racism. Following the public comment session, Trustees Carroll and Sodemann introduced their "consensus conclusion" resolution and were drowned out by anti-"Chief" activists chanting "1-2-3-4, Who is Carroll working for? 5-6-7-8, Selling out supports hate." The trustees could barely finish reading their resolution, as protestors held their fists up in the air. Following the reading of the resolution, Student Trustee, Nate Allen, offered two amendments to the resolution -- one which would have put a timeline on the process, the other of which called for an immediate YES or NO vote on the "Chief." Both amendments were easily defeated. As the Board voted in support of the Carroll/Sodemann "consensus conclusion" resolution, protestors drowned out the roll call vote with chants of "Your stinking resolution is no type of solution." Only UIUC Student Trustee Nate Allen voted against the resolution. Anti-"Chief" protestors then collectively confronted Board members, calling them out on their broken promises and lies. The Board then went into Executive Session and left the room. With this "consensus conclusion" resolution, the Board hoped to quiet and pacify the anti-"Chief" movement and quell protests. They hoped that we would see it as a step forward and a reason to hold off on further protests. They could not have been more wrong! The resolution that passed is nothing but an ode to "Chief Illiniwek," an attempt to silence Native peoples and their allies, and is a lie. The passage of this resolution will only strengthen our resolve and bring more people into the struggle against racism at the University of Illinois. Thank you for your continued support!!! RESOLUTION CONCERNING CHIEF ILLINIWEK Whereas, Chief Illiniwek has been a treasured symbol of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign since its introduction in 1926; Whereas, many students have performed well and ably in the role of Chief Illiniwek; Whereas, Chief Illiniwek was created and intended as an honorable and respectful representation of the indigenous people whose name is commemorated in the name of this State and its flagship university; Whereas, Chief Illiniwek has symbolized the dignity, strength, intelligence, and grace to which athletic teams at the Urbana-Champaign campus have aspired; Whereas, at the Board's request, the Honorable Judge Louis B. Garippo prepared a comprehensive report titled The Chief Illiniwek Dialogue - Intent and Tradition vs. Reaction and History - A Report to the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, which contains a historical record of Chief Illiniwek and many opinions about the tradition; Whereas, Trustee Roger Plummer delivered a report to the Board concerning the varying views on the matter of Chief Illiniwek, as well as the historical support for the terms "Illini" and "Fighting Illini" as they pertain to the athletic teams at the Urbana-Champaign campus; Whereas, as representatives of a great 136 year-old land grant university, the diverse people and cultures of Illinois, the university's nearly 71,000 students and its 300,000 proud in-state alumni, the Board of Trustees affirms that these constituencies are deserving of a conclusion to the Chief Illiniwek matter that is based upon a consensus among concerned parties; Whereas, through dialogue, the Board of Trustees acknowledges that opportunities exist for consensus to be reached; Whereas, such a conclusion provides an opportunity to resolve the Chief Illiniwek matter in a manner that is in the very best interest of the University and not of any particular constituency or interest group, that is consistent with the values espoused and practiced by the University, that has a compelling rationale found acceptable by a large majority of the University's constituencies, and that brings finality to the subject; Therefore, Be It Resolved that the Board shall seek a consensus conclusion to the matter of Chief Illiniwek; and Further Be It Resolved, that the Board shall next consider and approve guidelines pursuant to which a consensus conclusion will be based.