Here is an interesting site concerning the recent decision by Lawrence C. Eppley, President of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, to remove Chief Illiniwek as the official symbol for the University of Illinois. Pro-Chiefers are saying that Eppley acted unjustly by not actually having the Board of Trustees vote on the issue.
From the Chicago Sun-Times article by Dave Newbart published on 28 Feb 07:
“School spokesman Tom Hardy said the decision was made by “university leadership.” A statement posted on the board’s Web site — and later quietly removed — said board Chairman Larry Eppley conferred individually with colleagues and they reached a consensus. No public vote by the board of trustees was necessary, the statement claimed. Trustee David Dorris said his understanding was this decision would be made by the university administration, which oversees things like athletics and the marching band. (Presumably, even the assistant band director could have pulled the plug, considering it was his predecessor in 1926 who created the chief in the first place.) “
From DumpEppley.com:
“Eppley Violated By-Law by Reversing 1990 Board Resolution (updated 02/26/07)
After Trustee David Dorris said Eppley could not legally take the action he did, DumpEppley.com did some research and found the minutes from the 1990 meeting (pg 109 and 110) that officially named the Chief as the University’s official symbol. We found that Article IV, Section 3 of the Board of Trustees By-Laws, clearly states, “The Executive Committee functions as an instrument of the board and shall possess all the powers of the board when in session, provided that it shall not overrule, revise, or change the previous acts of the board, or take from regular or special committees any business referred to them by the board.”
The site is worth a look no matter your position on the Chief. The fact that this decision was done in such a seemingly “underhanded manner” does raise a few eye brows. No one seems to be proud of the decision because that would almost certainly affect their alumni donations, which is a vital resource for this (if not all) universities.
Update:
It looks like because of all the confusion over the decision to oust Chief Illiniwek, the Board of Trustees has agreed to a formal vote on the matter at their next board meeting. -via Chicago Sun-Times
The vote was made and the Chief is out. -via Daily Illini
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