In the Spring of 2007 a graduate student by the name of Raymond Morales addressed the Illinois Student Senate citing that the Chief Illiniwek tradition was rooted in the history of the Klu Klux Klan (which couldn’t be further from the truth). The evidence? That most of the white males in many fraternaties on campus shared KKK membership and even Lester Leutwiler’s father, who was connected to the University administration was in with the Klansmen.

The horror? The horror of the situation was that nearly every protestant white male at the time was finding the Klan to be a seductive right of passage–even here in progressive Champaign-Urbana. Keep in mind that the Klan’s National Headquarters to this day lies in the great State of Indiana. Long story short, these ridiculous pieces of circumstantial evidence were enough to inspire the “KKK chalkings” that drove the campus only further into division last semester.

I find it unfortunate that Richard Herman begins this initiative in order to try and reach out to those on campus who have been allegedly alienated by the long history of the Chief and their only response is to protest. Part of reconciliation involves concessions from both parties. Should this attitude of racial entitlement (on the basis of being oppressed) continue, an otherwise worthy and good cause may be rendered to the ash heap of campus concern.