July 2, 2009
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On May 20, 2009, three items from the Beyond the Chief art exhibit, created by the renowned Cheyenne-Arapaho artist HOCK E AYE VI Edgar Heap of Birds, were vandalized for the fifth time. The attacks appear to have taken place in broad daylight sometime between the hours of 8:30 am and 1:30 pm on Wednesday, May 20th. The vandalized art include signs located in front of the Native American House, the Asian American Studies building, and adjacent to the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center. An officer arrived at 2:00 pm to complete a report but no statements were released by the Campus Police.
The damaged signs include those representing the Wea, Meskwaki, and Peoria tribes of illinois. These series of attacks now make it plain that those perpetrating this vandalism are specifically targeting the Native American community - thus falling into the definition of a "Hate Crime" as described by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).
"Hate crimes are intended to hurt and intimidate individuals, because they are perceived to be different with respect to their race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender or disability. The purveyors of hate use physical violence, verbal threats of violence, vandalism, and in some cases weapons, explosives, and arson, to instill fear in their victims, leaving them vulnerable to subsequent attacks and feeling alienated, helpless, suspicious and fearful. These acts of hatred can leave lasting emotional impressions upon their victims as well as entire communities." (DOJ Website)
Students at the Native House on Wednesday, disturbed by these latest attacks, openly expressed frustration with the UIUC Chancellor, Richard Herman for his lack of action in addressing these series of incidents against the Native American community. "Yes, he sent out a mass email on this issue, but obviously that's not enough. The attacks continue and the campus climate remains unsafe for us and anyone who wants to see the campus move Beyond the Chief". The student making this statement asked to remain anonymous out of fear for her safety. Another student, who also preferred not to identify himself, attributed the attacks directly to the lack of action in ending Chief Illiniwek's presence on campus. "I refuse to attend any of the basketball or football games because the band still plays the Chief music during half-time. Yeah they retired the dance, but the music plays on. They're a cult and they are dangerous."
Although the University of Illinois' Board of Trustees voted to end the use of the Chief Illiniwek name, image and regalia, they also handed over all decision-making powers on the remaining issues to the UIUC Chancellor, Richard Herman. However, Herman refuses to end the use of the half-time music, known as the "Three-in-One", to which the mascot would perform his "crazy dance". Thus, since its retirement, the UIUC marching band continues to play the mascot's music while many in the crowd perform their homage to "The Chief".
Apparently, the latest pro-Chief ritual embraces a new tradition of destroying Native American art located on Nevada Street in Urbana.
Below are pictures of the damaged signs taken on May 20, 2009. Click on the image for larger versions.
Also, please consider signing the petition to pressure the Chancellor into taking action on this issue. Language on the petition is included below.
For additional information on the exhibit visit the Native American House Web site: http://www.nah.illinois.edu. Also, please read the article, "The Cost of an Exhibit: The Damage Done to the Native American House's 'Beyond the Chief' artwork" by Ashley Tsosie-Mahieu (Dine). This article by Miss Tsosie-Mahieu was written for the Public I (http://publici.ucimc.org/) after the FIRST act of vandalism upon the art work. The pdf file can be found by clicking here:
History of Vandalized exhibit
- First Wave: March 16, 2009--The damage from the first instance of vandalism is noticed and reported to University police and University administrators. The Peoria sign is the only sign damaged. This sign is directly outside of 1206 Native American House.
- Second Wave: April 6, 2009--In this wave of vandalism, three signs were damaged: Meskwaki, Potawatomi, and Sac. These are located outside of Asian American Studies and the Native American House(s).
- Third Wave: May 4, 2009--Three more signs are damaged: Myaamia, Odawa, and Piankesaw outside of La Casa and African American Studies. Chancellor Herman sends a mass email regarding these attacks on May 5, 2009
- Fourth Wave: May 8, 2009--The vandalism could have occurred any time between the evening of Friday, May 8 and 4:00pm on Saturday, May 9. The vandal wrote on the Potawatomi sign in red marker: "UH OH I VANDALISED (sic) THIS!" (Yes, they spelled "vandalized" with an "s" instead of a "z.")
- Fifth Wave: May 20, 2009--Three more signs are damaged: Peoria, Meskwaki, and Wea. These signs are located outside of Bruce Nesbitt, Asian American Studies, and 1206 Native American House.
PETETION
available at: http://www.petitiononline.com/352Henry/petition.html
To: The Board of Trustees- University of Illinois (U of I); President Joseph B. White- U of I; Chancellor Richard Herman - U of I; National Collegiate Athletic Association c/o Bob Williams;
S.T.O.P. Nevada Street Vandalism at The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Over the past month, public artwork titled "Beyond the Chief" by HOCK E AYE VI EDGAR HEAP OF BIRDS (Cheyenne-Arapaho) located on Nevada St. outside the Native American & Asian American Studies Program, and La Casa Cultural Latina has been repeatedly damaged. The intent of the exhibit is to meaningfully reflect on past and present issues impacting the Native American community. This is the third time in a month that this art exhibit has been vandalized. Not until the third vandalism was a public response or condemnation of the action issued by the University's central administration stating that measures were being taken to find the culprits and insure that this type of action does not continue to happen. This behavior is intolerable and unethical for a University that claims a commitment to diversity and excellence.
Whereas the Native American House & Studies Program was targeted three times by vandalism to public artwork by Edward Heap of Birds titled "Beyond the Chief" by HOCK E AYE VI EDGAR HEAP OF BIRDS (Cheyenne-Arapaho); whereas the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign continues to display pro-Chief paraphernalia-which was banned in 2007; whereas the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has not publicly condemned the vandalism and the racism that is pervasive on this campus we, the undersigned, petition the University of Illinois Central Administration and the Board of Trustees with the following demands:
1. The University administration shall issue a clear and unambiguous public statement condemning
the vandalism of the 'Beyond the Chief' exhibit, linking it to racism on campus.
2. The University will immediately institute a search for a new mascot for UIUC thereby making it
clear that the chief will never return.
3. The University will take immediate steps to acquire the public art "Beyond the Chief" as a
permanent art exhibit.
This vandalism is the latest in a long line of racially explosive incidents for which the University has had little or no response. In the past three or four years different groups of students have been racially targeted: Mexicans were mocked at a "Tacos and Tequila" party where students dressed up as gardeners, and women in "wife beaters" sported pseudo-pregnant bellies; African Americans were negatively depicted in a "Big Booty Hoes and Ghetto Bros" party, and there was even a threat against the life of a Native American student.
Contributing to the hostile racial climate is the lingering presence of Chief Illiniwek -- a controversial figure. To some the Chief's March 2007 retirement was initially considered to be a major step towards combating racism. However, the Chief was retired without any mention of its negative impact on the campus climate, especially for Native American and other marginalized students. For this reason both anti-Chief and pro-Chief supporters understand the decision to have been financial rather than moral. This incomplete 'retirement' contributes to an environment already tolerant of racist action. It is a disservice to the entire campus and community -- including those who are Pro-Chief and hope for its return, and those students who want to move past the Chief controversy -- that the Chief's presence still remains throughout this institution.
Arguably, this relative inaction of the Upper Administration can lead students at the University to believe that racism is something to be managed indirectly and not condemned, and this moral ambiguity causes many to disengage in any meaningful scholarly or personal reflections.
Therefore, in addition we demand that the University do the following:
1. Provide a monthly public report, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, that
specifically documents hate crimes, sexual assaults, stereotyping, or any other acts of violence
committed on the UIUC campus, along with actions taken to remedy the situation.
2. Establish multiple course, cross-disciplinary graduation requirements and an annual employee
training requirement that specifically engage issues of power and privilege, including racism,
sexism, homophobia, ableism, and class inequalities.
3. We demand that the university embark upon an aggressive and public plan to recruit and retain
faculty, undergraduate, graduate students, and academic professionals from marginalized
populations.
It will be hard for the campus to move "beyond the chief" until the University address the root of the problem: RACISM.
We the undersigned support these 6 demands:
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
Visit http://www.petitiononline.com/352Henry/petition.html to sign your name