(Name-mce) ListServ Ugly Turn in Mascot Dispute

[Anselmo Villanueva]

January 10, 2007

http://insidehighered.com/news/2007/01/10/mascot

Ugly Turn in Mascot Dispute

Chief Illiniwek, the mascot at the University of Illinois, has been
controversial for many years and it seems like his days spent rallying
sports fans may be numbered. Despite attempts by campus officials to
keep the Chief Illiniwek around, the National Collegiate Athletic
Association has waded into the matter on Native American mascots,
forcing colleges to make changes by 2008 or face penalties.

But as the mascot's demise may be imminent, the controversy has gotten
uglier, and Native Americans on the Urbana-Champaign campus are
demanding protection after discovering threats and racist jibes
against them on a Facebook group.

"With all the volatile discussion about the mascot, while we do want
people to express their views, we have to take this seriously," said
Wanda S. Pillow, director of the Native American House, whose members
first noticed the page last Friday. From dates on the page, it appears
to have been posted since November. Pillow said that several Native
American faculty members contacted Facebook and the administration
over the weekend about the threats. On Tuesday, after Pillow and
others circulated an e-mail to faculty members demanding an
investigation, the university announced that it would conduct one.

Inside Higher Ed obtained a printed copy of the page which has been
removed from Facebook. The page carries three postings, apparently by
two students at the university whose names are blacked out. Neither
student responded to an e-mail request for an interview.

With over 110 members, the group is titled "If They Get Rid of the
Chief I'm Becoming a Racist." One posting reads, "[W]hat they don't
realize is that there was never a racist problem before..but now I
hate redskins and hope all those drunk casino owning bums die."

Another post states that one of the leaders of the movement to remove
Chief Illiniwek is of Sioux descent. "I say we throw a tomohawk [sic]
into her face."

Pillow confirmed that a female student who has been outspoken against
Chief Illiniwek is of Sioux descent. "From the description, it's
pretty obvious who this person is, and she does not want to be
identified," Pillow said. She added that faculty members have
contacted William Riley, dean of students and associate vice
chancellor for student affairs.

Riley did not respond to numerous phone calls for comment. Tuesday
night, Chancellor Richard Herman released a statement: "I do not know
the motives of the students who posted the threats, but I do know that
their words are dangerous and racist. The threats have been forwarded
to the Office of Student Conflict Resolution for investigation and
action."

Stephen Kaufman, emeritus professor of cell and developmental biology,
said that he found the Facebook page offensive, especially because it
targeted a specific student who happens to be a descendant of Sitting
Bull. "We have an atmosphere of intimidation on this campus," he said.

Kaufman became the target of campus protest last fall when a student
started an online petition rallying students to get him to resign for
sending letters to high school athletes that the university was
seeking to recruit. The petition against Kaufman received over 3,300
signatures.

In the letters, Kaufman and other professors apprised the recruits of
the ongoing controversy with Chief Illiniwek. "[W]e ask you to take
this into consideration as you make up your mind where you will pursue
your college goals," stated the letter.

Robin Kaler, associate for public affairs, said that the Board of
Trustees makes decisions about the mascot.

— Paul D. Thacker