On behalf of thousands of students, faculty and alumni at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, I would like to thank the editorial board of the Emerald for its efforts to end the racial stereotyping in sports that is inherent in the University of Illinois’ sports mascot, Chief Illiniwek (“Oregon takes backward step by scheduling Illinois game,” ODE, March 1). Your advocacy that the University of Oregon not compete with the University of Illinois on the sports fields sends a clear and important message to those empowered to end this form of invidious discrimination. Racial stereotyping has no place in our educational institutions or elsewhere. We truly welcome this support from Oregon.
We sincerely hope that Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer joins Illinois Chancellor Nancy Cantor, UC-Berkeley Chancellor Robert Berdahl, former Illinois President Stanley Ikenberry, the United States Commission on Civil Rights, the NAACP and the hundreds of additional national and local organizations that urge an end to these practices. As stated by the NCAA Minority Opportunities Committee, “Member institutions with Indian mascots that promote Indian caricatures and mimic ceremonial rites do not comply with the NCAA’s commitment to ethnic student welfare. The use of these symbols and mascots is not respectful to Native American culture and is considered by that culture to be sacrilegious. The continuation of this practice sends a clear message that administrators, who have the responsibility of nurturing our students, have an insensitive disregard for the native culture of this country.”
Your advocacy has made a substantial impact in this debate and your continued efforts to see this issue through are essential and greatly appreciated.