Illinois

In recent weeks, Native American art exhibits have been vandalized multiple times at the University of Illinois. The art exhibit was named “Beyond the Chief.” Students and faculty responded by protesting and starting an online petition. The text of the petition is pasted below. At this moment, it has 163 signatures. Chancellor Herman responded with strong words in an email sent to the entire campus community; it is pasted below. The Chancellor is sometimes criticized for responding to racism with strong words rather than strong actions.

I abhor anyone who would vandalize any art or expression of an idea for hatred of that idea. I especially abhor someone who did so for racial reasons, assuming we can infer that from the actions of the vandal(s). A friend asked me to sign the petition but I refused because I believe the petition goes too far in its demands and that it uses some instances of poor logic.

The vandalism could have been done by one solitary person. If this is so then it undercuts the argument that the vandalism symbolizes a wider antipathy toward Native Americans on campus. The petition extrapolates the vandalism to a wider base of students. I get the sense that the mind of the author has implicitly assigned the vandalism to many students on campus. In other words, even though only one or a small group of people was likely responsible for this act, they assume that the act was supported by a broad base of students or that the vandals were interchangeable with a number of other students. There is racism on this campus. I have never experienced it, but I have heard numerous stories of explicit and implicit racism. The white students on campus rarely suffer racism, so they do not understand the extent that it exists, especially white students (like myself) who grew up in the Chicago suburbs. They underestimate the amount of racism. The collection of minority students that are involved with this petition and with the protest overestimate the amount of racism on this campus. The truth lies somewhere between those two estimates. Racism should not exist at a place that claims enlightenment. I agree. But the vast majority of students would never consider vandalizing Native American artwork. Perhaps I am naively optimistic about my classmates, but that opinion is based on seven years of observation.

The petition makes a total of six demands, which can be read below. I generally do agree with showing a strong reaction to the vandalism. However, the petition goes too far in its demands. They wish for the University to issue a statement that will connect the vandalism “to racism on campus.” That is a broad phrase that cannot be supported. We don’t know how many people were involved or why the art was vandalized. Motivation is important here. If we did know the answers to those questions we would still not be able to make a credible connection to the broader base of white students on campus.

One paragraph in the petition complains that the University did not go far enough in its retirement of the Chief. That retirement was a major victory for the anti-Chief groups, yet they are not satisfied. They always seem to want more. They want to quash all support of the Chief. They object that “the Chief’s presence still remains throughout this institution.” This paragraph sounds a bit too much like the desire to control how people think and what people say, which I vehemently disagree with in any context. It might be a stretch, but I believe their true demand is for uniformity of thought on campus. Some people who strongly promote diversity of thought are secretly irritated and upset when they encounter opposing views. Homogeneity is the covert demand of some diversity advocates. I am careful to use the word “some” because I don’t believe that description applies to all or even most diversity advocates. I am a diversity advocate and have done a number of things on campus to promote it (Dialogues on Diversity Co-Chair, member of the MLK Jr. Committee, a couple of Daily Illini columns, etc.).

One of the demands reads, “Establish multiple course, cross-disciplinary graduation requirements and an annual employee training requirement that specifically engage issues of power and privilege, including racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, and class inequalities.” This is a big demand. Issues of power and privilege? I actually agree that every undergraduate should be required to take one class that is set up as an open discussion about race and diversity. But the phrasing of this demand makes it sound like the objective of the class will be to teach all non-disabled, white men that they should feel guilty about their “power and privilege.” It sounds more destructive than constructive. I would support a constructive diversity class requirement.

I do agree with this demand, “Provide a monthly public report, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, that specifically documents hate crimes, sexual assaults, stereotyping, or any other acts of violence committed on the UIUC campus, along with actions taken to remedy the situation.” I think that sexual assault is an enormous problem on our campus, so I appreciate that they included that in their list. However, I am confused as to how it applies to their specific cause.

The anti-Chief and the pro-Chief movements have always gone too far. I don’t support either one. Neither group is ever satisfied. Neither can see the other side of the argument. Both make unreasonable and impractical demands. Racism cannot be destroyed by force. The issue is too delicate for force. Racism will be destroyed through the accumulating wisdom of each generation. Our generation might be the most racially tolerant generation in human history. Most societies do not have our diversity, and if they do, they do not celebrate it as the majority of us do.

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Here is a link to the petition so that you can sign it if you would like.

To: The Board of Trustees- University of Illinois (U of I); President Joseph B. White- U of I; Chancellor Richard Herman – U of I; National Collegiate Athletic Association c/o Bob Williams;

S.T.O.P. Nevada Street Vandalism at The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Over the past month, public artwork titled ÒBeyond the ChiefÓ by HOCK E AYE VI EDGAR HEAP OF BIRDS (Cheyenne-Arapaho) located on Nevada St. outside the Native American & Asian American Studies Program, and La Casa Cultural Latina has been repeatedly damaged. The intent of the exhibit is to meaningfully reflect on past and present issues impacting the Native American community. This is the third time in a month that this art exhibit has been vandalized. Not until the third vandalism was a public response or condemnation of the action issued by the UniversityÕs central administration stating that measures were being taken to find the culprits and insure that this type of action does not continue to happen. This behavior is intolerable and unethical for a University that claims a commitment to diversity and excellence.

Whereas the Native American House & Studies Program was targeted three times by vandalism to public artwork by Edward Heap of Birds titled ÒBeyond the ChiefÓ by HOCK E AYE VI EDGAR HEAP OF BIRDS (Cheyenne-Arapaho); whereas the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign continues to display pro-Chief paraphernalia-which was banned in 2007; whereas the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has not publicly condemned the vandalism and the racism that is pervasive on this campus we, the undersigned, petition the University of Illinois Central Administration and the Board of Trustees with the following demands:

1. The University administration shall issue a clear and unambiguous public statement condemning
the vandalism of the ‘Beyond the Chief’ exhibit, linking it to racism on campus.

2. The University will immediately institute a search for a new mascot for UIUC thereby making it
clear that the chief will never return.

3. The University will take immediate steps to acquire the public art ÒBeyond the ChiefÓ as a
permanent art exhibit.

This vandalism is the latest in a long line of racially explosive incidents for which the University has had little or no response. In the past three or four years different groups of students have been racially targeted: Mexicans were mocked at a “Tacos and Tequila” party where students dressed up as gardeners, and women in Òwife beatersÓ sported pseudo-pregnant bellies; African Americans were negatively depicted in a “Big Booty Hoes and Ghetto Bros” party, and there was even a threat against the life of a Native American student.

Contributing to the hostile racial climate is the lingering presence of Chief Illiniwek — a controversial figure. To some the ChiefÕs March 2007 retirement was initially considered to be a major step towards combating racism. However, the Chief was retired without any mention of its negative impact on the campus climate, especially for Native American and other marginalized students. For this reason both anti-Chief and pro-Chief supporters understand the decision to have been financial rather than moral. This incomplete ‘retirement’ contributes to an environment already tolerant of racist action. It is a disservice to the entire campus and community — including those who are Pro-Chief and hope for its return, and those students who want to move past the Chief controversy — that the ChiefÕs presence still remains throughout this institution.

Arguably, this relative inaction of the Upper Administration can lead students at the University to believe that racism is something to be managed indirectly and not condemned, and this moral ambiguity causes many to disengage in any meaningful scholarly or personal reflections.

Therefore, in addition we demand that the University do the following:

1. Provide a monthly public report, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, that
specifically documents hate crimes, sexual assaults, stereotyping, or any other acts of violence
committed on the UIUC campus, along with actions taken to remedy the situation.

2. Establish multiple course, cross-disciplinary graduation requirements and an annual employee
training requirement that specifically engage issues of power and privilege, including racism,
sexism, homophobia, ableism, and class inequalities.

3. We demand that the university embark upon an aggressive and public plan to recruit and retain
faculty, undergraduate, graduate students, and academic professionals from marginalized
populations.

It will be hard for the campus to move Òbeyond the chiefÓ until the University address the root of the problem: RACISM.

We the undersigned support these 6 demands:

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

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Dear Campus Community:

The continuing assaults on the Native American public art displays along
Nevada Avenue are not only unlawful and malicious. They are also an
assault on the values and fabric of Illinois. In other words, our
university has also been vandalized.

This is unacceptable and I condemn these recent acts in the strongest
language.

I am confident we will catch the culprits responsible but there is other
work that also demands our full attention.

We need to begin thinking of these crimes differently. First, let us not
view this as happening to someone else. What threatens one member of our
community threatens all of us. We are all diminished in the wake of such
an act. Indeed, Illinois is diminished and that should concern our
community.

Secondly, let us remember what this university stands for. Illinois has
always stood for the respect and dignity of all people and thought. We are
the home of the widest interpretation of free speech and expression. We
are the home of spirited debate along the confines of respect and
civility. But we do not tolerate acts of intimidation, violence or hate.

Let me be clear. This is our very lifeblood. This is our DNA as a great
public university. When our foundation as an inclusive and welcoming
campus is threatened we need to unite as a community and collectively
stand as one voice in condemnation. We have done so in the past and we
will do so at this crucial moment.

Let us reaffirm our commitment to making Illinois a safe, tolerant, and
inclusive environment for everyone.

Richard Herman
Chancellor

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So I was watching the evening news last night (the local news not the network cult of Obama-worship propaganda machine) and there were three stories associated with our university that I found so paradoxical that; well you guys be the judge.  Does this make sense to anyone? Read more…

Did anyone else watch the Illini upset Purdue?  What an exciting game.  Tisdale was huge, Mike Davis was fantastic.  We overcame a huge disadvantage in free throw attempts by taking great care of the ball.  Chester Frasier had 7 rebounds and I think 7 assists with one turnover.  The team played fantastic defense, and it seems like McCamey may have learned a tough lesson from riding the pine.  And the Bruce coached his butt off.

This should be our stepping stone into the top 25.

As the Blagojevich circus continues to unfold, I want to recommend that our readers check out the updates at the Capitol Fax Blog. Today, two of our contributors, John Bambeneck and myself, have been debating on the threads.  I hope you’ll join in.

Impeachment hearings *** Monk’s cell phone tapped? ***

Question of the Day

The question of the day is based on a proposal by State Rep. Will Burns, who I got to know when I was working in Springfield.  Will is a creative and bright young rising star in the Democratic party.  And I always thought he was also a genuinely nice guy. Read more…