The Chief
Pro-chief students hold 'sit-out'
By Megan Loiselle | Staff writer
Published Friday, April 23, 2004
Supporters of Chief Illiniwek met with Provost Richard Herman Thursday to request pro-Chief representatives receive the same agreement granted to anti-Chief protesters by Chancellor Nancy Cantor last week.
Nick Klitzling and Dan Bolin, among other members of Students for Chief Illiniwek, met with Provost Richard Herman to "request equal concessions to those who occupied Swanlund were able to get," Bolin said.
Last Friday, anti-Chief protesters ended their sit-in after Cantor agreed to set up meetings between anti-Chief representatives and state legislators. Cantor also agreed to let anti-Chief representatives meet with the University's accreditation agency.
Robin Kaler, University spokeswoman, said the anti-Chief protestors who held the sit-in last Thursday had contact with legislators before their protest. She said Herman told Students for Chief Illiniwek to also contact the legislators on their own.
However, Students for Chief Illiniwek representatives will join anti-chief activists at their April 28 meeting with the North Central Association Higher Learning Commission, the University's accreditation agency, Kaler said.
Herman appreciated the pro-Chief group's approach of seeking dialogue, Kaler said.
Bolin, senior in LAS and former president of Students for Chief Illiniwek, said he believes the anti-chief activists will try to tell the accreditation agency that the University should not be funded.
"I think it ought to be funded," Bolin said. "No state money goes to football or the Chief."
Klitzling, president of Students for Chief Illiniwek, said there are other ways to negotiate with the administration besides holding a sit-in.
"It can be done in a professional, civil manner," Klitzling said. "We are here today to honor administrators as opposed to preventing them from working."
Other members of Students for Chief Illiniwek agreed with Klitzling's point of view.
Scott Albers, sophomore in business and member of Students for Chief Illiniwek, said he understands the anti-Chief activists have the right to protest.
"But the administration does a lot more than just the Chief," Albers said.
While Chief supporters met with Herman, Students for Chief Illiniwek held a "sit-out" in front of the Swanlund Administration Building Thursday morning, serving lunch to visitors and University administrators kept out of their Swanlund offices by the sit-in participants.
Indria Clay, an office assistant who works in Swanlund, said she is glad the pro-Chief activists held the sit-out.
"(The sit in) took a whole lot longer than we thought," Clay said. "There was a lot of work that didn't get done."
Some anti-Chief activists came to the event.
David Two-feathers, an anti-Chief activist, held a sign that read "Indians Are Not Pets." He called the sit-out "a silly action."
Jeff Ishcomer, a Pawnee Native American who supports Chief Illiniwek, also attended the cook-out.
Ishcomer, a Pawnee Native American, also attended the event in support of Chief Illiniwek.
"I am not offended by the Chief," Ishcomer said. "(Anti-chief activists) are trying to bury the real issues."
Ishcomer said anti-Chief activists are trying to direct attention away from laws that protect Native Americans.
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