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TechnographUniversity fails to unify a campus divided on Chief
Our campus community needs help, and we have no one to step up and to show the real leadership we need
By Dan Mollison
Posted: 2/23/07 Section: Opinion Columns
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There has long been debate over whether the Chief is a racist mascot. I have personally been exposed to the "hostile and abusive" behavior that the Chief has sparked, and I will feel relieved if his removal will make members of our community safer. It is deeply shocking and upsetting that a symbol intended to unify us has fostered an environment in which some of our community must face threats of violence. But even if the Chief is capable of igniting the worst in us, it is inappropriate for him to be defined as only a symbol of racism, which the University administration implicitly suggests by barely acknowledging the conclusion of his 81 years on campus.
By failing to approach the Chief controversy with responsibility and decisiveness, the administration has done a disservice to us all. For decades our leaders have openly ignored the Native Americans who have plead their case before them, and these community members deserve an apology. Likewise, the administration could have also greatly eased the pain of those who support the Chief by clearly explaining why this decision was made and by offering Chief supporters some official means to say goodbye to him. By doing nothing the University has helped no one, and has failed to take the steps to unify our campus that we now so desperately need.
Abraham Lincoln once warned us that "a house divided against itself cannot stand." It will take loyalty, honor and courage for us to set aside our differences and move forward as one united community. Only we can decide if we will live up to what the Chief was intended to represent.
Goodbye, Chief Illiniwek.
By failing to approach the Chief controversy with responsibility and decisiveness, the administration has done a disservice to us all. For decades our leaders have openly ignored the Native Americans who have plead their case before them, and these community members deserve an apology. Likewise, the administration could have also greatly eased the pain of those who support the Chief by clearly explaining why this decision was made and by offering Chief supporters some official means to say goodbye to him. By doing nothing the University has helped no one, and has failed to take the steps to unify our campus that we now so desperately need.
Abraham Lincoln once warned us that "a house divided against itself cannot stand." It will take loyalty, honor and courage for us to set aside our differences and move forward as one united community. Only we can decide if we will live up to what the Chief was intended to represent.
Goodbye, Chief Illiniwek.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 11
lyn
posted 2/23/07 @ 3:25 AM CST
Good article and well written. However,I have to say that division serves a purpose when its underlying cause is two irreconcilable positions as in this situation. (Continued…)
It's been less than a week...
posted 2/23/07 @ 8:11 AM CST
It will take a little time. In about four years, there will be a complete turnover of students. These new students will never have known the Chief and won't care, and the campus will be reunited. (Continued…)
Alumnus & Resident
posted 2/23/07 @ 8:34 AM CST
"It will take a little time. In about four years, there will be a complete turnover of students. These new students will never have known the Chief and won't care, and the campus will be reunited. (Continued…)
Lyn is right
posted 2/23/07 @ 8:43 AM CST
Good commentary in that it is one of the few times I have ever seen anyone acknowledge that the root of the problem is that the Chief symbolizes different things to each side, and each holds the beliefs very strongly. (Continued…)
jb
posted 2/23/07 @ 8:49 AM CST
Sounds like an acceptance speech from a winner to the losers.
"It will take loyalty, honor and courage for us to set aside our differences and move forward as one united community". (Continued…)
Kyle
posted 2/23/07 @ 10:01 AM CST
Easily the most level-headed and well written article about this subject that the DI has ever produced. It is depressing that those on both sides of this issue can't take a little time to see the others opinion. (Continued…)
Bill Etter
posted 2/23/07 @ 8:06 PM CST
It is sad that political correctness has taken over the leadership of my University. Perhaps the alumni can show their disappontment of the administration's action or lack of action on the Chief Illiniwek issue by reducing contributions to the University. (Continued…)
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