|
Comment on this article |
View comments |
Email this Feature
|
|
Announcement :: Right Wing |
|
NCAA mascot decision |
Current rating: 0 |
by Eracism
Email: eracism (nospam) iresist.org (unverified!) |
19 Oct 2005
|
UIUC's Board of Trustees (BOT) have appealed the NCAA mascot ruling. Urgent action is needed to encourage the NCAA to stand by their decision and pressure the BOT to action.
Dear community members,
The letter below is included to urge you to make some time and respond directly to the NCAA regarding the university’s appeal of the mascot ruling. UIUC’s Native American House’s administration, faculty and students have all taken strong stances against the BOT’s stalling antics and lack of desire to gain input from the American Indian community on this issue... |
Dear community members.
The letter below is included to urge you to make some time and respond directly to the NCAA regarding the university’s appeal of the mascot ruling. UIUC’s Native American House’s administration, faculty and students have all taken strong stances against the BOT’s stalling antics and lack of desire to gain input from the American Indian community on this issue. The NCAA ruling, if upheld, may prove to be the pivotal external force needed to finally end the embarrassing reign of the stereotypical representation that brings much shame and conflict to this university. You are being asked to please use the contact information below to voice your opinion about the role of this mascot in creating a negative environment for learning, growth, scholarship and community. Also, we are asking that you raise this issue within your organizations and friendships and urge them to take a stance on this issue ASAP. Individuals associated with the other cultural houses and ethnic studies programs on campus are particularly encouraged to share your insights with the NCAA.
_________________________________________
At the following URL please find a copy of the
University of Illinois Board of Trustees's Appeal to the NCAA ruling regarding the use of American Indian mascots, nicknames, and imagery.
http://iresist.org/NCAA-Appeal.pdf
This appeal argues for the continued use of American Indian imagery at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
I encourage us all to closely read this document and consider writing to the NCAA, as well as university and BOT leadership, and Governor Blagojevich. This appeal and UIUC's presence in the national media around the mascot issue impacts us all. Those of us who are at UIUC know that the mascot issue creates a divisive climate on our campus and that for many the campus does indeed feel hostile and unsafe. As scholars, researchers, staff, and students at a Research I institution we are all concerned with the impact of 'chief illiniwek' on the quality of education at our university. The continued distortion and misplacement of honor surrounding American Indian peoples, histories, and cultures are only exacerbated by the presence of a mascot, 'chief illiniwek.' The imagery, dance/spectacle, and nickname associated with 'chief illiniwek' do NOT honor American Indians nor does this 'tradition' honor our university system [for further information on the mascot see UIUC's Native American House website:
http://www.nah.uiuc.edu
Please share this e-mail with your colleagues and consider taking the time to share your views with NCAA personnel; President B. Joseph White, University of Illinois; Lawrence Eppley, Chair, University of Illinois Board of Trustees; and Governor Blagojevich. Their email addresses are below.
Thank you for your time and efforts on behalf of university.
Sincerely,
Wanda S. Pillow, Director
Native American House/American Indian Studies Program
Associate Professor, Educational Policy Studies
Your voice and input are important. Share your views on the appeal with:
Dr. Myles Brand, President
The National Collegiate Athletic Association
317-917-6222
mbrand (at) ncaa.org
Dr. Bernard Franklin, Senior Vice President
The National Collegiate Athletic Association
317-917-6222
bfranklin (at) ncaa.org
Lawrence C. Eppley, Chair, University of Illinois Board of Trustees
Office of BOT
217-333-1920
mthompson (at) uiuc.edu
UIBOT (at) uilllinois.edu
Dr. B. Joseph White, President, University of Illinois
Office of the President
217-333-3070
bjwhite (at) uiuc.edu
Govenor Rod Blagojevich
Main District Office
312-814-2121
http://www.illinois.gov/gov/contactthegovenor.cfm |
See also:
http://iresist.org/news.html
http://www.nah.uiuc.edu
|
Comments
|
Re: NCAA mascot decision |
by Deb
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
19 Oct 2005
|
As many of you know, the Board of Trustees filed an appeal with the NCAA. Mr. Eppley's letter glosses over some key points regarding the Office of Civil Rights investigation that he refers to. The background information is below.
The appeal cites a 1995 investigation by the U.S. Dept of Education, Office of Civil Rights (OCR). Eppley’s letter of appeal says that “particular” individuals filed the lawsuit. Why did he not say “Native American” students? The complaint was filed by Native American students, staff, and faculty who were here at the time. I had just arrived on campus. I was
called by the investigators, but had not been here long enough to say to them that I had encountered difficult situations. That is no longer the case. If called now, I would have numerous incidents to report.
Moreover, the OCR findings noted that the controversy is significant enough that UIUC was asked to take proactive steps to address the experience of Native students, but nothing was done. Indeed, some of the things that
occurred after the report were clearly going in the other direction.
Throughout the 90s, we (Native student organization) repeatedly asked UIUC administrators to provide the UIUC community with educational opportunities to learn about Native Americans. We suggested this take the form of an
American Indian Studies program. We also asked that the university provide Native students with an office on campus in which to meet and host cultural programming events for the campus community (not just for Native students).
And, we asked that the Office of Dean of Students hire an Assistant Dean whose primary charge would be for the recruitment and retention of Native American students.
Semester after semester, year by year, we made these requests in meetings with administrators, and we did so with respect, clearly articulating the rationale for these things. Though individual Native students sometimes
took part in protests organized by various anti-Chief entities, we sought to retain a distinct identity on campus as a Native American group that was "pro-Indian" as opposed to simply another anti-chief group.
To our surprise, at one of these meetings, Pat Askew told us they had decided to fund the Assistant Dean position, and were also going to provide us with space to meet. We were taken aback by this sudden change. Noting their lack of knowledge of Native cultures/peoples and how to go about
hiring the Assistant Dean, they asked us to sit on the search committee, drafting the job announcement and getting it placed in key publications that serve Native American communities.
The next day, we went to the designated space and found it was two desks pushed together in the foyer of the Turner Student Services building. It was not a secure space, nor was it private. We literally felt that the joke was on us. Rather than complain, we elected to use the space, with confidence that once the Assistant Dean was hired, he/she would be able to
help us secure a better space.
Over the course of the semester, Native students, working in good faith, drafted the job description and announcement, and circulated it in our networks. Three candidates were invited to campus and given the usual treatment. That is, travel and lodging was paid for by campus, and the candidates had at least one full day of interviews with campus administrators who they would work with. After the three visits, it was
deemed by all of us (Native students and campus administrators) that none of the three was what we needed. We brought additional candidates to campus and selected one of them. We were told by administrators that she would be
on campus when we returned from winter break that year.
But, she wasn’t, and she didn’t know what the hold up was. Campus was silent, not replying to our queries. Finally, we were told that there was no longer any money to support the position.
Obviously, our good faith efforts were for nothing. Or worse than nothing, given the space we had, and the lack of follow through on the Assistant Dean position.
Between then and the arrival of Nancy Cantor, things were very dark. Native students left campus. There were no new students being recruited. Our numbers fell drastically. By drastically, I mean that in the Native Student organization, when I arrived, there were 15 tribally enrolled Native
students. In the late 90s, there were less than five.
We made great progress during Nancy Cantor’s tenure as Chancellor, and that support continues. We are growing in important ways, in the ways that an academic institution should grow. Yet, we labor under the cloud of Chief
Illiniwek, and the names of the teams. UIUC’s reputation in Indian Country is very bad. When we go to our respective homes, and when we attend conferences, we talk very positively about the support we have for the Native American House and American Indian Studies program. Truly_--it
exceeds much of what is happening in other major research institutions. We could be bringing so much good publicity to UIUC, but too much of our time is taken up with explaining or attending to discussions related to Chief Illiniwek.
Debbie |
|
Re: NCAA mascot decision |
by Local Yocal
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
29 Oct 2005
|
|
Has this group any thoughts about the adverstisements in this week's Hub, one for the HIghdive on page 28, the lower left-hand corner? And the other on p. 31 in the upper right corner for Boltini's? Is this group going to picket-line these events too like they did with the Swandlund Building in 2004? Seems like they would if they wanted to stay consistent about racial stereotypes dehumanizing and all.... |
|
