Fri Mar 13 17:45:19 CST 1998
Good evening. My name is Rose, and I am speaking tonight for the Progressive Resource/Action Cooperative, co-sponsors of the first National Conference on the Elimination of Racist Mascots. A few years back, I would have been arguing on the side of the College Republicans and the Orange and Blue Observer. This is my third year here, but because both my parents, my brother, and most of my dad's side of the family is alum, "Chief" has been part of my life since I was old enough to go to the football games and pick out my own "Chief" t-shirt from the old IUB. During my first year, however, I participated in the Alternative Spring Break program's Cultural Education trip to the Ojibwa reservation in Lac Du Flambeau, WI. Pro- "Chief" students stress that "Chief" is an expert on Native culture because he visits an undisclosed reservation. Well, that must make Sanji and I experts, too, although I don't think either of us would accept that title.
Our BOT defends "Chief" by claiming that it honors the Native Americans that it in no way attempts to represent. Dr. Ostrovsky listed the international and national American Indian organizations and tribes who insist that "Chief" is a slap in their face. Is "Chief" consistent with how mainstream America honors people? Don't we normally build a monument, a bridge, an airport or name a national park or a scholarship fund after someone? I saw some Republicans on CNN the other night. They were collecting money to build a monument to President Reagan in each state. Why do I think that these guys would find the state of Illinois' interpretation of honor-to run a non-Caucasian man in white make-up and a Hollywood costume out on our football field to recreate the Reagan presidency in dance-completely dishonorable and unacceptable? This symbol wouldn't honor Reagan anymore than it would educate us, remind us of the history of the Reagan presidency that we would otherwise forget.
The BOT argues that "Chief" is tradition. But, there are other traditions which should guide out thinking at this time. All people are created equal-equally honorable and equally dishonorable. Equal opportunity for an equal education. Ask yourself if you would be here, a student senator at the U of I, if a stereotyped image of your religious leader was sold on butt warmers and underwear, decorating porto-johns and porn stores? Would you feel comfortable learning on this campus? Would you even have been admitted if you differed from the image the school promotes? Can you understand why many Native students choose not to come or stay here? Can you understand why we must discontinue the use of "Chief?"
Rose Somebody-or-other,
From a speech delivered before Champaign-Urbana Senate Caucusvia NASF-L
So the Senate voted overwhelmingly in support of a resolution to retire Chief Illiniwek. I was very pleased at this news, but I think all us anti-Chief activists understand how we have our work cut out for us in getting students, alumni and community members better aware of the issue. There's already the feel of a backlash, people crying out in the editorial pages of the DI in pain over their identification with the school mascot.
And nobody expects that the Board of Trustees will let this measure be approved any time soon.
Sun Mar 15 23:37:21 CST 1998
That's great, it starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes, an aeroplane -
Lenny Bruce is not afraid. Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn -
world serves its own needs, don't misserve your own needs. Feed it up a knock,
speed, grunt no, strength no. Ladder structure clatter with fear of height,
down height. Wire in a fire, represent the seven games in a government for
hire and a combat site. Left her, wasn't coming in a hurry with the furies
breathing down your neck. Team by team reporters baffled, trump, tethered
crop. Look at that low plane! Fine then. Uh oh, overflow, population,
common group, but it'll do. Save yourself, serve yourself. World serves its
own needs, listen to your heart bleed. Tell me with the rapture and the
reverent in the right - right. You vitriolic, patriotic, slam, fight, bright
light, feeling pretty psyched.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.REM,
It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
Well, so Friday night I went with Dave and Amit and Linda to Fridays, gorged myself on Jack Daniels Steak, a baked potato, salad, my breadstick, Linda's breadstick, two hearty beers - one of them Guinness and then this formidable cheesecake concoction for dessert. I was immobilized, returning home to sleep. I hurt myself.
During the evening Amit asked about "The Ho" - Linda Ho. I said I knew little beyond that she delivered babies. So I sent the girl an email and she wrote back for a change, rather chatty, talking about how she might try to hike around China for awhile or something, or take a year off school to make money, and that she wanted to go to Case for medical school though her dad wanted to save some cash by her going to university of Illinois. I think she'll stay with Case, and just wanted to present a little interesting dramatic tension to her audience.
Later on, I revived myself, declined an invitation to the bars with my roommates, and wandered downstairs and saw some of a rather strange "cabaret" in the South Rec Room with Iris. I guess it's what you'd call "performance art" so it was variably stimulating and frustrating - not something you might pick for a first date, unless you're both grad students at the University of Chicago or perhaps vegan.
Iris told me next time we should go to Courier Cafe or some local, respectable, cheaper stablishment with better food than to patronize the corporate restaurants. Right on sister! Next time, I'm givin' iris a call.
So then Saturday Night I went to a party at hOl - it was a Saint Patrick's
Day / Engineering Open House / Benjy Feen is Coming to Town party - it was
excellent, and the Benjy Feen Punch was very excellent, and I got very drunk,
and very dizzy dancing in circles in a Polka with Chris, and very happy to
hear It's the End of the World
which Jesse Olsen had requested, from
his station out somewhere in the world coz he's in the Marine Corps. And I
ended up making out with a girl who shall here remain nameless, and we all
walked home, Rene and Mel escorting Chris, Mike and myself. I then enjoyed
my inebriated state 'til 0500h in the commons, cuddling with Chris and
letting Shaun tweak my nipples.
Yeah, it was a good night, and I had no hangover whatever the next morning - I have yet to get that very drunk, but it's not for lack of not trying when granted the opportunity. I've found also that drunkenness improves my ability to remember names and I was singing with great recall various songs very poorly throughout the night. I'm a happy drunk, and I think I was amusing a rather tired bunch of friends with my antics.
Today I woke up around 1300h, hiked out to the cash machine, dropped by the library for lunch and a french vanilla coffee, bumped into Maureen, with whom I exchanged a few words, wandered back to Allen, ate, watched TV with Linda, proof-read some for Joe and Pei, did laundry, and found time to type a few words out here.
10 March
<<
Journal Index
>>
16 March
H O M E