CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A final report is available from the commission appointed by Chancellor Robert Jones to comprehensively examine the various issues related to the use of Native American imagery on campus.
The Chancellor’s Commission on Native Imagery: Healing and Reconciliation was comprised of two co-chairs and 12 members representing the broad experiences of students, faculty members, staff, alumni and athletics, including Indigenous university stakeholders and former portrayers of Chief Illiniwek.
“I want to thank the members of the commission for their thoughtful work this year. They have fulfilled the charge I gave them in a balanced and consultative manner that has led us to what I truly believe is a new path forward. Their frank and open discussions and their careful consideration of the opinions and viewpoints expressed by university students, faculty members, staff, alumni and friends led to observations and advice that will be extremely helpful as I determine our next steps,” Jones said.
The commission met monthly between November and April. In addition to discussions in those sessions, the members drew from the perspectives raised in communitywide critical conversations in spring 2018 and also considered the more than 2,000 informal online survey responses on the intent and impact of the portrayal of Chief Illiniwek.
Editor’s note: For more information, contact Robin Kaler, associate chancellor for public affairs, 217-333-5010, rkaler@illinois.edu