Racism as treasured tradition
While searching for the identity of a racist, homophobic, pro-chief hate e-mailer, I came across this gem of a statement from the University of Illinois Alumni Association’s President:
Statement from UIAA President Loren R. Taylor
The University of Illinois Alumni Association is supportive of the Board of Trustees in light of its difficult decision concerning the Chief Illiniwek tradition. We recognize the board’s responsibility to act in what it believes to be the best interests of the University as a whole. At the same time, we respect the emotional impact this announcement is having on the alumni and friends who treasure this longtime University tradition. Illinois loyalty has never been constricted to one issue or dependent on any one activity, and, as a community, I believe we will emerge from this period stronger, closer and more committed to our shared fundamental values.
Loren R. Taylor
President and CEO
University of Illinois Alumni Association
Translation: The University of Illinois Alumni Association respects the longtime racist tradition of chief illiniwek at UIUC and is sorry for the emotional turbulence that losing the mascot has caused to the dominant majority at UIUC. Our white privilege, racism, and othering of Native folks will continue to make us closer and more committed to our shared fundamental values.
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Great find, Eric!
As a former spin doctor myself, I wonder where this guy’s PR person was to warn him not to say stupid things in an official statement. But the cynical part of me thinks this was probably in part written by a racist PR person who *thought* they were actually being PC or something. Crazy…
Annette C Martel
24 Feb 07 at 1:46 pm
Annette – I think this statement was written specifically for pro-chief alumni who had/have threatened to end monetary contributions. It further emphasizes the fact that the demise of the chief at UIUC was not about ending a racist mascot. The chief was kept all these years because of money and it was money that caused the chief’s discontinuation. I have read a few blog posts from UIUC alums who had never given money to the alumni association because of the chief. They have now pledged to give money to the school. Basically, the money will keep flowing: post-season collegiate athletic dollars and anti-chief alumni donations.
Eric Stoller
24 Feb 07 at 5:52 pm
Eric,
You are a very silly young man.
I suggest that you spend some time reading the blog Durham in Wonderland.
And, I’d suggest you get the hell out of humanities, and cease writing this garbage.
The real problem at the University of Illinois, as at all colleges and universities is the existence of women’s studies, black studies and gay studies departments that gin up the phony controversies and hysterias that cause young men like you to don their hair shirt.
Take may advice. I am a 1971 graduate of Illinois, now living in New York City and Woodstock , NY. This hair shirt game will get you absolutely nowhere in life. There is no reward for kissing ass in such a grand manner. You are an absolute fool. I played this idiot game when I was your age. You will live to regret being such a jackass.
Go into a technical course of study. Learn a good job skill. Leave this bullshit to the grim Marxists in the English department.
The real issue now is how to drive the nutjob Marxists out of the University of Illinois. You are stupid, young and naive, Eric. Get out of this idiot mindset before you ruin your life. The people whose asses you are kissing in the hope that they will nominate you for martyrdom… well they’d just as soon puree your balls in a blender.
Shouting Thomas
27 Mar 07 at 9:57 pm
[...] I decided to pop out of my self-imposed blogging hiatus to address a recent comment on my site. It seems that a long-time reader of my blog, Shouting Thomas, has taken a bit of umbrage with, well, I guess my entire site — text and graphics included. According to Shouting Thomas, I am a “very silly young man.” [...]
I am a silly man » Eric Stoller’s blog
28 Mar 07 at 12:20 pm
[...] Translation: The Chief is used as a means for Gibson City to generate income. Apparently racists have deep pockets. Dickey invites everyone to “bring a lawn chair, enjoy free entertainment and celebrate the Chief. “We’re giving the silent majority a chance to speak in Gibson City,” he said. [...]
Gibson City’s silent majority » Eric Stoller’s blog
28 Aug 07 at 4:16 pm