I received this email about Chief Illiniwek froma fellow Illini. As a University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign alumnae, I feel compelled to pass it on. I personally don't like Chief Illiniwek. Something about the symbol and the way it is portrayed just rubs me the wrong way. However I am loyal to my school and love that I went to college where I did. This issue has existed for as long as I can remember however and I am now bringing it here. What are your thoughts?_______________________________________________
I am writing to ask your support to RETIRE CHIEF ILLINIWEK at the University of Illinois. As we know, this debate has been going on for years, but it has taken on new heights as of late. Trustee Frances Carroll, a new trustee and the only African-American on the Board of Trustees, is a fellow church member of mine. She has introduced a new resolution to retire the chief. Dr. Carroll is working hard to make sure the chief is retired, but she cannot do it without support. Trustee Carroll has had to regrettably withdraw her resolution before because she did not have enough support with the board for the motion to pass and become an agenda item. She has now secured support within the Trustee Board and needs our support to make retiring the chief a reality. It is of vital importance that our voices are heard and now is the appropriate time. Please read the full article below and respond with your input to the e-mail addresses listed in the article. We have less than 1 month to make our opinions known before the board vote. If we don't...who will?
Because the school is state-funded, this is a matter concerning Illinois tax payers. You should also e-mail your Illinois General Assembly members and the governor concerning your feelings. I have attached a link with the Illinois Senate contact information. Send correspondence for Governor Blagojevich, to governor@state.il.us or to the Office of the Governor, 207 State House, Springfield, IL 62706; (217) 782-0244 [TTY (888) 261-3336]. Please forward this to all alumni and concerned tax payers that you know!
I urge you to take 2 minutes to send a short e-mail that says "I support retiring the chief". That's all it takes.
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Ongoing campaign led by the Retire the Chief Coalition
The Retire the Chief Coalition, whose moniker "American Indians Are People Not Mascots!" is seeking support to assist in the retire "The Chief Campaign" this March. The following is taken from an open letter to African American Alumni of UIUC from the Coalition:
Please note that inclusion of this letter is not to be construed as an endorsement of the cause; it is for informational purposes only.
Dear Urbana Champaign Black Alumni Association:
Fifteen years ago, Charlene Teters, a Native American graduate student, stood outside a University of Illinois basketball game with a hand-lettered sign saying this. Fifteen years later, the University of Illinois still has not retired Chief Illiniwek. Although no one would think of putting on a minstrel show at the University of Illinois, every single football, basketball, and volleyball game still features a performance by a white student dressed as a "chief." The Native American community needs your help to end this insult.
Trustee Frances Carroll (Chicago) the only African- American on the Board of Trustees and the only educator has introduced a resolution to retire the chief. It is critical that we show our support for her action and this resolution now.
Can we count on your support? Please email the offices below and voice your opinions about the desire to retire Chief Illiniwek. Lets not have business as usual. You can also cc your feels to editor@retirethechief.org or bjewett@earthink.net if you would like your comments on the anti-chief website, www.retirethechief.org. TOGETHER WE CAN DO THIS AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD! This matter should be a concern of all Illinois voters.
If you have any questions please email Chris at chrishb205@aol.com or Brenda, Director of the Native American House, bfarnell@staff.uiuc.edu
or call (217) 244-9226.
The next Trustees meeting is on Thursday, March 11th, please get co-workers, friends, family, church members other organization affiliations to participate with this email campaign. We look forward to your support and participation.
Thanks,
Chris
Retire the Chief Coalition
END OF LETTER
Please note again that inclusion of this letter is not to be construed as an endorsement of the cause; it is for informational purposes only.
For more info on this topic...
http://www.legis.state.il.us/reports/rptMemberList.asp?gaid=3&ChamberId=S
More chief retirement dialogue: http://www.uiuc.edu/dialogue/index.html
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