[Peace-discuss] PRC plans major anti-"Chief" action at upcoming BOT meeting

[Randall Cotton]

I suspect it may not be appropriate to post this to the peace list, as AWARE
has no current formal "anti-chief" effort.

However, I suspect many on the peace-discuss list generally concerned with
issues of social justice would be interested in knowing of this major
planned PRC action at the upcoming UofI Board of Trustees meeting. It
promises to be a well-planned, highly visible action.

R

----- Original Message -----
From: "Karin Lange" <kelange at students.uiuc.edu>
To: <recotton at earthlink.net>
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2003 4:22 PM
Subject: Action Alert: Tell the BOT - No More "Chief"


>
> [please forward to members of AWARE and any other supporters]
> --
>
> SAY NO TO THE CONTINUED USE OF "CHIEF ILLINIWEK!"
> Read on to find out how...
>
> Dear Randall,
>
> As an ally of the anti-"Chief" movement on campus, we at the Progressive
> Resource/Action Cooperative (PRC) wanted to update you and your
> organization with some IMPORTANT information.
>
> The Board of Trustees, a nine member committee who has the power to keep
> or ban "Chief Illiniwek" as our mascot, is meeting on our campus May 14th
> and 15th.  The PRC wants to put pressure on the board to address the issue
> of the "Chief" and to encourage them to expediently eliminate the racist
> mascot from our campus.
>
> The BOT initially ducked out of having a meeting on our campus this year,
> possibly because of last semester's public forum in which a strong
> anti-"Chief" sentiment was voiced.  Under pressure from various sources
> the BOT has agreed to convene here, during the middle of finals week, at
> eight in the morning.
>
> To say thank you to the BOT, the PRC will be in attendance at their
> meeting, and members of PRC will be addressing the BOT on the issue of the
> "Chief".  The larger the anti-"Chief" presence, the more effective the
> message will be, and we are encouraging your organization to show up in
> solidarity against the "Chief" at the public forum of the BOT meeting on
> May 15th.  Posters and other anti-"Chief" paraphernalia are welcome.
>
> Here are the details:
> ************************
> Date: Thursday, May 15th
> Time: 8:30 AM
> Place: Pine Lounge of the Illini Union
> NOTE!!!  You will need to come early if you would like a seat.  Last
> semester, the Board left over 60 students who wanted to attend the meeting
> in the hallway.  If this happens again, please stay to continue to show
> your support.
> *************************
>
> Please pass this information along to your members, and if you are
> interested in getting more involved or would like more information, please
> let us know.  Read below for additional information on how you and your
> organization can help end the use of a racist mascot and symbol on our
> campus.
>
> Thank you for your time and your support,
> The PRC
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> TAKE ACTION. In preparation for the May 14th and 15th BOT meeting, the PRC
> is doing a number of things, the first of which is a campaign to have
> every "Chief" opponent and person of conscience personally contact the
> Board to remind them of their promise to vote on the issue and to demand
> that they vote to immediately eliminate "Chief Illiniwek." You may write,
> email, or call the Board, and you may either chose to use the sample
> message below (you can cut or paste it into an email message) or write a
> message of your own (however personal messages tend to be more powerful!).
> If you email the Board, please blind carbon copy the PRC at
> prc at prairienet.org . If you choose to write, fax, or call the Board,
> please send us an email to let us know so that we can keep track of how
> often the Board is contacted.
>
> You can direct your messages to the Board of Trustees to the
> care of Michele Thompson, Secretary of the UI Board of Trustees:
>
> Email: mthompsn at uillinois.edu
> Phone: (217) 333-1920
> Mailing address:
> 352 Henry Administration
> 506 S. Wright St.
> Urbana, IL 61801,
> MC 350
>
> SAMPLE MESSAGE.
> -----
> Dear Members of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees,
> I am writing to urge you to vote on the issue of "Chief Illiniwek" at
> your May 14th and 15th Board of Trustees meeting on the UIUC campus.
> I strongly believe that the "Chief" is a racist representation of
> Native American peoples that should be put to an immediate and
> unconditional end. The "Chief" is an affront to Native peoples, and an
> embarrassment to the University, an obstacle to multicultural education
> and diversity on the Urbana-Champaign campus. As the "Chief" faces
> increasing condemnation - including recent anti-"Chief" statements by the
> Illinois Student Government and the Chancellor's Committee on Campus
> Diversity - it should be apparent to you now that its end is inevitable.
>
> You postponed voting on the issue at your March 2002 meeting and pledged
> to address the issue by the end of July 2002, it is 2003 and you have
> still not even put the item on your agenda! With the NCAA asking schools
> to look at race based mascots we must be at the forefront of education and
> eliminate the "Chief" now.  Do not further insult the Native community by
> further postponing action on this issue. I urge you to vote to abolish the
> "Chief" in all forms at your May meeting. I also want to implore you to
> vote to issue a formal apology to the Native community, provide adequate
> funding for the new Native American cultural house and studies program,
> and increase recruitment and retention of Native students, staff, faculty,
> and administrators. I stand firmly with the growing number of people of
> conscience who are pledging their support for the anti-"Chief" movement
> and will not be silent on this issue until the "Chief" is abolished and
> there is the possibility for true multi cultural education at the
> University of Illinois.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> <Your name>
> <Your UI status or other affiliations, if applicable>
> -----
>
> GET INVOLVED!
> As you know this is a critical time in the Anti "Chief" movement and we
> must all come together around the BOT meeting to demand justice on our
> campus and in our communities.
>
> FIRST:  Come to Public Comments Session at the BOT Meeting Thur. May 15th
> at 8:30 AM in the Pine Lounge of the U of I Student Union and show the BOT
> that they must eliminate the "Chief" now!
>
> SECOND: Come to weekly PRC meetings at the Illinois Disciples Foundation
> (corner of Springfield and Wright) Wed nights at 7:30 (summer meetings
> beginning June 4th).
>
> THIRD: Volunteer to help distribute "Dis-Orientations" which explains the
> "Chief" issue and other struggles for peace with justice on our campus to
> incoming first year students at summer orientation.
>
> Thank you for taking the time to take action on this very important issue
> of social justice on the UI campus. Please forward this message to anyone
> you think would be interested.
>
> ------
> BACKGROUND INFORMATION. Since 1989 there has been a growing movement
> to put an end to UI's racist mascot, "Chief Illiniwek."  The "Chief" is a
> racist representation of Native American peoples that was created by
> non-Native people for the entertainment and profit of non-Native people.
> It undermines Native peoples' right to self-determination by appropriating
> sacred aspects of Native political and religious culture. In fact, every
> national Native organization that has taken a stand on the issue has
> called for the "Chief's" removal.  Opposition to the "Chief" also includes
> hundreds of local, national, and international organizations -
> including most recently UIUC Student Government and the UIUC Chancellor's
> Committee on Diversity.
>
> For more information about the PRC, call (217) 352-8721, email
> prc at prairienet.org, or visit our website at www.prairienet.org/prc.
>
>
>
>
>