Bogus Threats Against American Indian Over Chief Illiniwek Mascot

Reading a bit of news this morning I found this story:

University of Illinois Probes Threats Against American Indian Over Chief Illiniwek Mascot

on foxnews.com. After reading the story, it just seemed too simple. I am sure there are people out there who would say things like that; I have no doubt in my mind. But it seems the person who these threats were targeting is one of the activists trying to get the mascot removed from the school. I am sure a bit of research will show her identity, but that's not really the issue here. The issue is who wrote the threats? Threats like:

"I say we throw a tomahawk into her face"

and

"what they don't realize is that there never was a racist problem before ... but now i hate redskins and hope all those drunk casino owning bums die."

Those statements are terrible and people should never talk about others they disagree with like that. But, did the person who wrote those comments disagree with the targeted student? If you ask me, no. These comments were written by someone who believes the same way as the targeted student. Possibly even the student herself. My guess would be someone else though; we'll get to her next.

These comments alone don't raise a red flag; the red flag is raised later in the story.

Enter stage left: professor Brenda Farnell

It looks like foxnews went to her for a comment, and she was more than happy to climb right into the fiasco. Most professors would try and distance themselves from something like this. It's bad, bad for everyone and especially bad for the school. But not professor Farnell. She jumps right in and starts throwing punches from square one.

One faculty member said the woman who was threatened is one of her students.

"She's targeted because she has been very brave and active," professor Brenda Farnell told The AP on Tuesday. "She's been the recipient of hate speech before, to her face."

Farnell, part of the university's Native American Studies program, declined to identify the woman but said she is a graduate student and a Sioux.

Hmm, it looks like the professor is part of the university's Native American Studies program. I sure would like to know what side of the Chief Illiniwek Mascot issue she is on. Of course, my guess would be that she is against the mascot, but I am going to do a bit of research before I make that conclusion.

Research done, I can tell you it seems to me that this professor Farnell is some sort of zealot when it comes to the Chief Illiniwek issue, see below:

http://www.retirethechief.org/Dialogue/farnell.html
http://www.uillinois.edu/trustees/dialogue/Farnell_letter.pdf
http://www.nativeculturelinks.com/lsa.txt
http://www.iresist.org/
http://jss.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/28/1/30?ck=nck
http://www2.uiuc.edu/unit/senate/speakers.html
http://www.illinimedia.com/di/apr_00/apr13/news/news01.shtml
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles

A quick Google search of "Brenda Farnell" + illiniwek gave me 9 pages of hits all about her views on Chief Illiniwek. You can say it's one of her pet projects. Here is a quote:

In the United States, the Euro-American practice of using stereotypical Native American imagery and dancing in association with athletic mascots continues despite vigorous protest.

Analysis of the discursive formations associated with one such local practice—the dancing Indianmascot at the University of Illinois known as Chief Illiniwek—suggests that the dominant "race-making" population, who are the mascot’s ardent supporters, create and passionately defend a "White public space" in which any contemporary Native American presence is positioned as disorderly.

Hmm, anyone thinking what I'm thinking? She sounds a bit like Ward Churchill and seems to be marching in step with the racist "blame whitey" crowd. You can read more at the links above and come to you own conclusion.

Now back to the foxnews story.

So if I were a betting man, I would say that this Brenda Farnell or one of her cohorts made these outrageous statements against this American Indian student to try and turn the tables on the discussion. In her mind once the students are in danger, maybe the University will change its opinion on the whole mascot issue and send Chief Illiniwek packing.

From the foxnews.com story:

The university's board of trustees could discourage further threats by doing away with the mascot, Farnell said.

"They've been sitting here for years and years now," she said. "They seem to be totally oblivious of that."

So, she sees the threat against the student as a good thing and will now use it as proof to have the mascot removed. If anyone should be removed it she be this shady professor.

Maybe the professor would be happy if they change the mascot to a short drunken fighting Irish man?
-The fownews story is here-