Anti-"Chief" Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2004

UI Board Uses Stalling Tactic in “Chief” Controversy
New Rhetoric, No Progress

This morning, the University of Illinois Board of Trustees passed another resolution regarding the “Chief Illiniwek” controversy at their Board meeting at the Springfield campus. As part of the “Consensus Conclusion,” this policy is meant to “preserve and recognize the state’s American Indian Heritage.” This resolution takes no action to eliminate the “Chief” but it does incorporate familiar pro-“Chief” rhetoric once again into public policy. The “Consensus Conclusion” itself flies in the face of what Trustee Plummer concluded in his 2002 report, “It is abundantly clear that there is no ‘compromise’ available.” President Stukel introduced the resolution at the meeting and spoke of the shift from honoring Native Americans to celebrating Native culture. In response to this resolution, Aaron Smith, a member of the PRC, said, “By what authority does the Board presume the right to preserve a Native American heritage which is not their own when they won’t recognize how their actions injure Native Americans on this campus? They must end the cultural misappropriation embodied in the ‘Chief’.”

This resolution follows the release of the North Central Association’s (NCA) Focus Visit report released August 25, 2004. The NCA, the accreditation agency for the University of Illinois, visited the UIUC campus last spring to evaluate the effect of the “Chief” controversy on the UI’s educational environment. They sharply criticized the Board’s failure to provide leadership in dealing with the controversy, concluding that “the Chief issue and the surrounding controversy have an influence that is harmful to educational effectiveness in a variety of areas, especially leadership, governance, educational integrity, and campus climate.” In addition, the NCA went on to state, “the institution will find it increasingly difficult to attract outstanding faculty. Native American and other minority administrators, faculty, and students, and the most highly-qualified individuals for leadership positions.” In contradiction to this documentation, the Board states in the resolution passed today that “the campus possesses rich collections of research materials and art works related to American Indian culture and traditions that attract scholars and students at all levels.”

Members of the anti-“Chief’ coalition attended the Board meeting in Springfield this morning in silent protest of the lack of any resolution on the “Chief” issue. The PRC calls on the Board to stop stalling with its meaningless resolutions. Take 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 past due.

Source: The Progressive Resource/Action Cooperative (PRC)

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