You can associate a lot of ideas with senior in statistics Cornelius "Corey" President. He is a man who loves music, his family, his friends and playing tricks on unsuspecting bystanders — hey, if he became the president of the United States his title would be President President. But one thing that President doesn't want is to be associated with Chief Illiniwek.

"My position on it is I've always been against the Chief," he said in the Main Library. "I don't think they should have that anymore."

President's reasoning is that having the Chief as a mascot promotes stereotypes.

"When you put an Indian on a shirt it's like you're saying that all Native Americans wear feathers, do tribal dances and stuff like that and that is definitely not true," he said. "I wouldn't want anybody to put me on a shirt with a basketball or anything and some fried chicken. I wouldn't want that at all."

The administration would surely agree that the U of I Fried Chicken and B-Ball bad Motha's would not be a wise choice. But what does Mr. President think the new mascot should be instead?

"I don't know, maybe like a prairie dog or something ... just something other than what we have right now," he said.

Snazzily dressed in a long sleeve white Sean John shirt with clean-shaven sideburn trails and a neatly picked Afro, President admitted, "I like to keep it fresh. My big thing is, I like shoes."

His two favorites are Reebok Classics — he was sporting an un-scuffed white pair of these kicks — and Nike Air Force Ones. President said he has about 10 pairs of both styles in various colors.

Along with dressing to the nines, President is also something of a music man — mainly in the domain of rap and R&B.

"A lot of people come to me asking me about the latest CDs that come out because I try to get it all," he said. "I like 'Southern rap' so there's a new Juvenile coming out in December so tell everybody be looking out for that, because I know I'll have it."

He said his record collection lies somewhere in the realm of 200, and he keeps them in his Melrose Apartment bedroom.

"He's a really mild-mannered guy," said one of his roommates, senior in LAS Yohannes Ogunlesi. "He's really laid back; there's nothing wrong with that."

But senior in applied life studies and fellow roommate Jason Casper tells a story that seems a bit more interesting about our dear President.

Casper told of an incident involving a water gun, a pitcher of water and a stranger's resistance. He said one day the guys were driving around shooting people with water guns when someone fired back at the car with a cup of water, dousing President and causing a stir in the vehicle. Moments later, the unarmed suspect jumped onto a nearby bus.

"Corey had me follow the bus until this guy got off," Casper said. "He jumped out of the car with a pitcher of water and just threw it all over him."

This isn't the first time the fellas have played hijinks on the Chambana community. When President lived in the Florida Avenue Residence Halls during his first two years at the University, one of his favorite games was to wait outside and turn away pizza delivery people who were bringing food for other students.

Still, President's redeeming qualities are vast, and most lie in the love he has for his family and his job at Kenwood Elementary School in Champaign.

"I like my family," he said. "They've supported me for 21 years in everything that I've done or wanted to do so I love my parents still and my sister."

On Mondays and Wednesdays, he goes to the elementary school where he said he "tutors kids, helps them out with their homework, and then once we get done with the homework I take them outside to play."

President also tries his best to maintain his reputation as a positive role model for his niece and nephew. "I want to kind of set that example ... I don't want to be a bum or anything," he said. "That's why being successful is one of my biggest things."

Keep on keepin' on Mr. President.

IN THE BOX:

Name: Cornelius President

Hometown: Dolton, Ill.

Year: Senior

Major: Statistics

Birthday: November 08, 1982