The time of the Signs
The mob gathers pitchforks and torches.
If Mark Nepermann avoids the death penalty, they'll see justice done themselves. Afterward, they'll march to the County Courthouse, pull State's Attorney Julia Rietz from her comfortable office, and boil her in hot tar.
No published evidence suggests Mark Nepermann knew anything about the sign he pulled from a yard as he staggered home. Perhaps he interpreted its message correctly. Maybe he misinterpreted it. Maybe he is an anti-Chief activist, and wanted to put the sign in his yard. Maybe he's pro-Chief, and wanted to destroy it. Maybe he just thought it was funny.
But the circling vultures have already determined his mindset: Hate crime.
WHAT WAS HE THINKING?
As a matter of law, it seems likely that Nepermann had no specific intent regarding the sign he removed from a lawn near the Quad. Given the time of day, his age and the location, one might even conclude that he had been (shock!) drinking.
In Illinois, voluntary intoxication is a defense if the defendant can demonstrate that she or he, as a result of the intoxication, was unable to form the specific intent necessary for the crime. (720 ILCS 5/6-3)
What is a Specific Intent Crime?
It will be plenty hard getting a charge of theft to stick. Theft in Illinois is a crime that involves a heightened level of mens rea. Specifically, you can't commit a theft without knowing it. "Knowledge" is the second highest level of culpability. It's easier to prove that a person acted recklessly.
Rietz could have charged a variety of other offenses from the Illinois Criminal Code, but they all have the same "knowledge" mens rea requirement.
(720 ILCS 5/21‑1) (from Ch. 38, par. 21‑1)
Sec. 21‑1. Criminal damage to property.
720 ILCS 5/21‑1.2) (from Ch. 38, par. 21‑1.2)
Sec. 21‑1.2. Institutional vandalism.
(720 ILCS 5/21‑4) (from Ch. 38, par. 21‑4)
Sec. 21‑4. Criminal Damage to Government Supported Property.
"Voluntary intoxication" means you went to a bar, smoked some doobage, or in some way consumed a mood altering substance. The term exists to differentiate "involuntary intoxication," in which someone slipped you a roofie.
The voluntary intoxication defense is hard to prove in Illinois, especially where defendants have evinced some kind of plan, or awareness of their actions. It's even harder to achieve with serious crimes. Nepermann's crime was neither serious (when contrasted with the systematic disemboweling of a loved-one) nor contrived.
WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?
In yesterday's opinion from the Editors of this publication, Rietz was vilified for charging Nepermann with a misdemeanor, rather than a felony.
In a public statement, Rietz explained that the level of offense is determined by the value of the property stolen. Over $300 = felony. Some people might consider Edgar Heap of Birds's signs to be worth millions. But you could have one made for $88.65, and that's the gist of the nub.
Does this mean you could steal a Picasso, and elicit a misdemeanor charge? Yes, it does. If you steal a print of a Picasso made by a third party (as were the signs) you'd likely be charged with misdemeanor theft. Had Heap of Birds hand-carved the sign from a chunk of aluminum, the value would have been less easily ascertained by local police. But they had a receipt from the manufacturer. And that's the most important thing to know when forming an opinion about Rietz's mindset. Nepermann and his attorney will have access to that receipt. They can prove to a jury that the sign cost $88.65, and that's prima facie evidence that Nepermann did not steal something worth over $300.
The most basic distinction between any misdemeanor and any felony concerns time spent in the clink. Misdemeanors = 364 days or fewer. Felonies will tie you up for 365 days to life.
In Illinois, few class 4 felony convictions incur a prison sentence. (The prisons are already overflowing with dope smokers.) So charging Mark Nepermann with a felony would have accomplished no greater punishment. It might have reduced the odds of getting a conviction, though. Juries are somewhat predictable, and no matter how thorough the voir dire, a jury is likely to include someone who thinks "felony" is too grave a mark on the permanent record of a guy who, it will be argued, made a snap decision to grab a yard decoration on his drunken lurch home from a bar. One thing we do know about Nepermann is that he was an Eagle Scout.
Rietz has no way of knowing what the jury will be thinking. She's unlikely to make an error of overbearing.
QUIT TELLING ME WHAT I'M THINKING
The problem with the Chief/anti-Chief discourse is that either side invariably claims to know the mind of the other. The anti-Chief crowd fired the first shot, claiming anyone wearing Orange and Blue was a racist. The retort claimed activists were communist thought police.
The majority moderates amused and bemused themselves, watching from the sidelines.
More elegant arguments arose. From the anti-Chief side: Studies showed American Indian caricatures had a detrimental effect on the self-esteem of aboriginal youth. From pro-Chief: That's Chief Wahoo, not our noble Illiniwek, whose regalia and dance were, after all, given to us by the Lakota Sioux.
In the end, the University of Illinois decided no one would be able to divine or distort whatever statement was made by Chief Illiniwek. It simply stopped making the statement.
So now, each side of the Chief fight is left to decipher and translate what the University isn't saying, or why it doesn't say what it really wants to say. This makes message control easier for both sides. When one is determined to put words in the mouth of another, it's best if there are no words there already, as they might conflict with the message.
As for Mark Nepermann, the most fervent true believers likely don't care whether the charge is misdemeanor theft or felony theft. They don't want theft charges. They want a hate crime prosecution. That would require a determination of Nepermann's perception.
Julia Rietz is wise. She will not attempt to interpret Mark Nepermann's thoughts. More importantly, she will not try to persuade twelve persons to unite against Chief Illiniwek. That's what this case is really about.
Proving Nepermann's determination to injure "injuns" might be done, but the state would need a whole lot of pictures of Nepermann attending pro-chief rallies, wearing Chief paraphernalia, and possibly war paint. They might present some permissibly accumulated communications (a MySpace blog, for example) in which Nepermann declared his hatred of all things anti-Chief. If such evidence existed, I expect we'd have heard about it. Given the demographic of Champaign County's jury pool, it might not bring a conviction in the Nepermann case. But it might get him elected.
21 comments
Durango Mendoza
<span>Rob McColley’s glib and bubbly piece</span>
<span>rings remarkably familiar in this </span>
<span>community. It is full of declaratives </span>
<span>and has an expectant earnestness </span>
<span>shared by the many who try to protect </span>
<span>themselves against what the Chief </span>
<span>really means. Its Rush Limbaugh with </span>
<span>a polite smile and a nimble dance without</span>
<span> the big cigar.</span>
<span>Its message, like so many I have heard </span>
<span>over the years has the four D flavors </span>
<span>that seem to characterize and unite so </span>
<span>many: Deny, Dismiss and Discard with </span>
<span>smiley or snarly Distain.</span>
<span>Why so many intelligent and otherwise </span>
<span>OK people, (they would give you the </span>
<span>shirt off their back - but it’s a Chief </span>
<span>shirt!) are so aggressively nostalgic </span>
<span>about a racist mascot is a puzzle with </span>
<span>only false answers.</span>
<span>Ms. Rietz, based on her statements to </span>
<span>the press, wields the biggest D, backed </span>
<span>by the power of her office: terminal </span>
<span>dismissiveness.</span>
Durango Mendoza
My first comment came out garbled and with parts missing for some reason. Here is the actual text
<span>Rob McColley’s glib and bubbly piece rings remarkably familiar in this community. It is full of declaratives and has an expectant earnestness shared by the many who try to protect themselves against what the Chief really means. Its Rush Limbaugh with a polite smile and a nimble dance without the big cigar.</span>
<span>Its message, like so many I have heard over the years has the four D flavors that seem to characterize and unite so many: Deny, Dismiss and Discard with smiley or snarly Distain.</span>
<span>Why so many intelligent and otherwise OK people, (they would give you the shirt off their back - but it’s a Chief shirt!) are so aggressively nostalgic about a racist mascot is a puzzle with only false answers.</span>
<span>Ms. Reitz, based on her statements to the press, wields the biggest D, backed by the power of her office: terminal dismissiveness.</span>
Rob,
typical courage.
I agree with you that Rietz is wise in not attempting to judge an individual’s thought at a moment in time. I suppose a jury (esp. a local one, per your point) would more likely dismiss a heavier charge.
Mr. Mendoza, to better articulate your view please construct a point or stance that directly addresses topics within a work (and doesn’t name-call). Otherwise, you run the risk of sounding redneck.
Well put, Rob. I tried to comment on this issue earlier but wasn’t able to put things as succinctly as you do. I think Reitz’s decision has more to do with being pragmatic rather than being biased against native americans.
Kevin Hamilton
Rob, your collapse of the legal case and the broader debate is a mistake. In the legal case, some question of motivation, of “reading minds” is at stake. In the broader debate, what is at stake is whether an environment of racism, of white supremacy, is constructed through the mascot, and through vandalism of Heap-of-Birds sculptures. When I describe my town, or my workplace, as a racist environment, I don’t describe it as full of racists - I describe it as destructive to some persons or people.
I am anti-“Chief,“ and I have also been deeply troubled by the long spate of vandalism against Heap-of-Birds’ sculptures. What troubles me about both is not that there might be racist people in the world. Seeing a person in a “Chief” shirt doesn’t make me worry that I might be in proximity of a racist. I’m not even “chiefly” concerned with whether or not Nepermann’s actions were racially motivated.
Admittedly, some part of the legal case against Nepermann has to be concerned with his motivations, but that’s the smallest issue at stake here. In the context of numerous attacks on these sculptures, Nepermann’s theft sends a hateful message whether or not he intended to. In some environment, if not in the court, he bears some responsibility for contributing to making my town more hateful toward Native Americans, past and present. And now, whether or not she intended to do so, Rietz has joined Nepermann. I can never know another person’s heart or mind, but I can describe the world I live in.
KILL HIM!
We slaughter a civilization, steal their land, and spit on their values. But that could all change…if this were only a felony. White man say Peace Pipe illegal…stupid white man.
V
It’s an interesting straw man argument, you got going her Rob. Okay, so if people are saying it’s a hate crime, yeah, fine. But there are two bigger issues going on here. First, it’s this understanding that “art is judged by what it cost to manufacture it.“ We all understand that. Picasso did not make the canvass, nor do many contemporary artists manufacture the medium by which they create “art” on (i.e. the “Bean” in Chicago). Nonetheless, we consider it “art,“ appraise it, and value it as.
This connects to the second part of Edgar Heap-of-Birds’ argument that we 1) devalue Native American art and 2) don’t understand art in general. In general, art from marginalized groups have either been exoticized or dismissed. Neither is good b/c it automatically assumes that marginalized groups cannot create art. I like to believe that it challenges our own ideas of what constitutes “art” but that requires people to move outside their comfort zones and actually discuss/converse/debate this things.
Finally, even if Rietz is being pragmatic (which I don’t think she is, I think she’s taking the easy way out), Rietz is doing so at the expense of minorities (specifically Native Americans but other people of color recognize this b.s.). You don’t have to kill the kid for doing something stupid but you don’t have to slap him on the wrist either. Rietz is siding w/ the status quo in this town and in doing so, aligns herself with the negative connotations of being racist in this University that has so long promoted and supported a highly questionable and controversial (in some eyes, racist, others honorable) mascot.
When someone ties one on, blows through a stop sign, and plows into someone else with his/her car, he is charged with involuntary manslaughter. Did he mean to kill the other person? No, but he did nonetheless. Perhaps Mark Nepermann was too drunk to be cognizant of committing a hate crime, perhaps not. However, he did destroy something with an appraised value of $100,000 to $120,000, regardless of the sum of its parts. If she could find an impartial jury, and a change of venue could allow her to do so, it is not unreasonable to think that Rietz couldn’t also persuade/educate a jury about modern art values. E.G. I could have my friends pee on a metallic painted canvas, but that doesn’t make it on par with one of Warhol’s oxidation series paintings: http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=5074062 And, between Kurland Steel and some local body shops (which have painted a few local sculptor’s works over the years) you could probably come pretty close to Jeff Koon’s Balloon Flowers http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=5101408 but that won’t make yours worth $25 million. A replacement sign is simply that, it is not the original. Anytime something is reprinted, it’s value is less than the original. Thus, there is financial loss to having to make do with a replacement, regardless of the cost of the manufacture. Heap of Birds works are regularly appraised at six figures. Julia Rietz is backing away from doing what is right in favor of doing what is expedient.
Mike
But does anyone really believe these signs are worth six figures? Evidently some appraiser does, I guess. Who’s willing to pony up the cash to establish a high enough market value for these things so the kid can really get what’s coming to him?
It’s no suprise that an artist would feel his/her art is undervalued or underappreciated, but does that make it so? Is it all about finding that one right appraiser, being in the right place right time? Should it be decided on popularity?
Lots of questions (and there’s more, like Tyson still wants to know what they even mean), but to me the main one is this: Should this kid be “fucked for life” as Seth and some others would like to see happen? I don’t think so. You can. Fucked for the summer would be good. But please, that doesn’t make me a racist or art-hating hayseed.
Brett Bloom
The Heap of Birds work is special for many reasons - independent of the fact that he has made similar work all over the world for decades and that many people deeply respect what he does - as these are not typical signs that one sees on a campus. They intervene in the normal functioning of the campus, use language to provoke thought and reassessment, state another version of the history of the land that the school occupies and so on. Already, we can see that these are not typical street signs.
Rietz clearly isn’t an expert in valuing contemporary art, nor is the author of this blog post, both demonstrate a lack of understanding of the nuances and complexities of doing this (no one see a knock off print of a Picasso as valued as the same as one made by Picasso or printed at his request). She could have consulted with someone who understands the complexity of appraising contemporary works that lie outside of traditional cliched notions of art production (if Nepermann had ripped up a Mickey Mantle rookie card, you could be certain that an expert appraiser would be called). The fact that she didn’t do this and made a decision to value the work at the cost of its production is a clearly political decision and effectively minimizes and trivializes a violent activity that isn’t simple and petty.
There is no discussion here at all about the emotional toll this must be having on Heap of Birds (or Native American students). I doubt anyone reading Smile Politely - or very few of you - has ever had their public art work vandalized. I have and it is a miserable feeling akin to having your car or house broken into, but worse because you have put a lot of time, thought, energy and passion into making something. It is a violation and transgression that is extremely difficult to deal with and it renders one powerless. I have no idea why my work was vandalized, and recognize that this is a part of making work in public that challenges people, their ideas, and even their notions of what art is and can be. However, with the Heap of Birds work, the vandalism occurred in a completely toxic envrionment and this is clear to anyone no matter what side of the issue you are on. The signs had been vandalized repeatedly prior to Nepermann’s acts. This creates an atmosphere of hatred and a lack of respect for divergent, unpopular opinions, regardless of Nepermann’s intent. He felt empowered, and being drunk is no excuse, to do what he did.
I would like to see Heap of Birds’ work given the value it deserves and receive the serious consideration that many of us already give it extend to the larger community. That respect clearly doesn’t exist. I think Nepermann should be punished for what he did, but going to jail is not a solution. Our legal system is clearly failing in this situation to both value Heap of Birds, but also not trash the life of someone who made a very bad decision. It is doint the one at the expense of the other.
Several of us worked together to make yard signs that spread our support for Heap of Birds, The Native American House, and for respect in general of our Native hosts, beyond the narrow (minded) confines of the campus. Copy and paste this link to see our statement and to get signs if you want them: http://www.blocksteady.org/?p=179
Dr. Henry Killinger
We all get that a lot of people are upset here, but if you charge this thug with a felony and he’s convicted then you have an even bigger problem on your hands. It is nearly impossible to get a decent job, let along any job with a felony conviction on your record. This creates a person who cannot support himself financially, and now you have another drain on your taxes. First you’ll pay for his jail time, then you’ll pay for his welfare.
Is it worth all of that? Is it really? He’s already been publicly humiliated, which I believe is the ultimate punishment, and he will certainly get convicted of his misdemeanor and have to pay a fine and serve some sort of community service. Isn’t that enough? Seriously? Do you want some college kid who made a dumb mistake to pay for the rest of his life? Get real here folks.
He wasn’t Columbus, or some other slaughterer of Natives. He didn’t hand out blankets with small pox, he didn’t break any treaties and steal land. You can’t punish him for the past mistakes of other white people.
brigham
The University should take away Nepermann’s Fine & Applied Arts degree.
Is there an article that discusses the previous occurrances of vandalism to these pieces?
stuart
Some of the response to this seems a little overwrought.
First, we should note Neppermann apologized in a letter to the N-G today, and claims no malicious intent of any sort. Whether the apology was of his own volition or on advice of counsel doesn’t really matter that much.
Second, it’s clear, given the prices the artist’s works command, that he could have been charged with a felony. I doubt a conviction would result even with a change of venue, and a judge would lean hard for a settlement. I think Rietz would take the felony route if this were a real hate crime.
Third, it’s obvious I don’t think this is a hate crime. And that’s not because I necessarily believe Neppermann’s account of his state-of-mind. It’s hardly on par with involuntary manslaughter, and it’s not a deed of an extremely toxic environment or a hateful message, let alone a seriously racist act. And I doubt the artist is keeling over from some terrible emotional toll, but he can speak for himself.
Fourth, the Chief is absolutely a racist mascot, and good riddance. He’s dead and gone and is not coming back, except in the fevered imaginations of a few sullen revanchists, like the N-G editorialists and letter writers.
So what of these acts of vandalism, suburban and local yokels sporting Chief t-shirts, and other similar obnoxious acts and statements? Is this a toxic environment of racism? Well, kind of, but not really. It’s more an environment of resentment and willful ignorance. It’s not one of overt hostility to native peoples, which is not to say it’s benign; it’s not. But demanding felony charges and ramping up the rhetoric as several have done here is counterproductive overkill. The problem is not some sort of malicious indian-hating (there are places where this is an all too real thing but CU is not one of them), but the identity issues of the chief supporters, who come from nowhere suburbia and the non-descript corn-covered factory floor. Now what tribe can these homeless folk belong to?
Mike: I wouldn’t personally pay $16.5K to $18.5K for a restored mid 70s Cadillac Eldorado convertible, but that doesn’t mean that those numbers aren’t the appraised value in the current market. Check the Christies site for the results of the May 13, 2009 auction (sale# 1997) and you will be stunned by prices. http://www.christies.com
Stuart: Even a settlement would likely come in over $300, which is the point of using the appraised value.
Dr. K: There are plenty of people who “made a mistake” and got the book thrown at them. I used to work with several of them while waitressing my way through college. Neperman apparently doesn’t realize or appreciate how lucky he is to be able to go to college. There are a lot of people who would give their right arm to be in his shoes. He damaged something with a high appraised value. You do the crime, you do the time.
Mike -
I purely speculated that he might be fucked for life, if Rietz did the thing that seems to be the most rational: charge him to fit the crime with a felony for stealing and damaging a work of art, and doing it with intent to further damage the Native American population in this country. I don’t think he should be put in jail, but I do believe that an example should be made, and that he should have to live with the consequences of being a bit of a racist. He is one. And he knows it.
Perhaps now, he will learn to be more appreciative of others’ cultures. Perhaps.
I don’t care what his letter to the people said. I believe he knew what he was doing. And I believe that this is a felony. And I believe it was not a random act of drunkeness. I believe this was calculated, by him, and perhaps laughed about after the fact with his dumbshit friends.
Again, though. I never said he SHOULD BE fucked for the rest of his life. I said, that perhaps, he would be, based on the charge.
The charge, I am sorry to say, does not fit the crime. And Julia Rietz has not only lost my vote, I will likely actively campaign against her.
Word.
Durango Mendoza
I have three adult sons and was a young man myself once. We all did stupid things and didn’t get caught. But unless you are a young man of color, those who advocate for the lesser charge are missing a huge point. How many young men of color get “fucked for life” several times during their life for doing less than what Neppermann did? What did it teach them?
As a retired person of color who has held professional positions of responsibility with the respect of my peers I have still been “politely” harassed by local police. They see my surface and act accordingly. It is a strenuous task to remain neutral and even confident, when these things happen, that we live in an essentially just society. As a Native American artist myself I agree with Mr. Bloom’s insights. I know our Native students were deeply disturbed knowing that unknown brute force vandals were afoot near what was to be a safe haven in a hostile environment. The progression of these events, even if done by different persons, culminated in the theft and the arrest of Mr. Neppermann. Yet I feel for his parents, and indeed, him as well. It is the callous and “pragmatic” (read dismissive) people of power, Ms. Reitz and those who influence her, that cause me the most dismay.
I also agree, in principle, with Mr. Fein. I would have preferred that the initial charge be a felony with his attorney doing the dismissive and devaluing work rather than having Ms. Reitz do it for him. That is a big affront to the Native community and the artist, as well as our community of allies. In a place that claimed to “honor” Native Americans lo these many years the ugly truth emerges: real Indians aren’t welcome, only faux ones. The art signs will go back up regardless. We will persevere as we have always done, with the grace and determination of a people who have been through much, much worse. We shall remain. And more than that, we will flourish. Thanks to those who stand with us.
Mvto.
e. wayne johnson
One could argue that Nepermann was exercising 1st amendment rights and that the destruction of the display was “protected speech”, not merely vandalism. One could even abstract Nepermann’s actions as a form of “art”.
To me, the whole thing has the nature of a conflict of ideas and values, and a public discussion and mediation might produce more benefit and resolution than treating it as a criminal case.
Felonies are serious things that stay with people for lifetimes
and should not be handed out lightly for infractions related to zealous division on unresolved social issues.
It’s more like a struggle between iconoclasts to determine whose idolatry is the most worthy sand-castle.
I am not sure what the actual content of the displays was, but I am guessing that “Beyond the Chief” ought to be wholeheartedly unambiguously Anti-Chief. The Anti-Chief stuff could equally be construed as “hate speech”, and have the same 1st amendment protection as any other valid exercise of good-old-fashioned down-in-the-dirt hate speech.
Seeking tougher sentences for tearing down “in-your-face” art that is deliberately and calculatedly designed to be provocative is a rather virulent form of hate in itself. Should one blame the taunted bull when it charges? If the display was to be “art” only, why wasnt it displayed indoors where the art would be safe from fading by sunlight and torment by tornadoes? The truth is that the intent of “Beyond the Chief” is to in a major way frankly piss off people in the local community, and it that sense, it is obviously effective. Making it into a criminal case is just silly. But looking silly hasnt stopped the perpetrators on either side of the Chief debate and debacle. Clearly this is a case where Both Sides Suck. Tougher sentences for hate speech, indeed. Stronger words too. Deeper intentions. Greener crocodile tears. More obstinate entrenchments. Ya-hoo, you yahoos.
There is still tremendous pro-Chief sentiment in the State and locally as well and one is not surprised to see it breaking out into occasional violent acts, while the Native Americans seek public attention in various and unique ways. There is a huge festering wound that needs healing. The bleeding-heart minority in the community painting the pro-Chief majority in the community bigots and racists does nothing to change minds or produce healing among those who feel wronged and betrayed by the university. Nepermann is probably already viewed as a sort of folk hero by some. Better to get the whole matter resolved in a public discussion than to make Nedermann a martyr.
But I really dont have a “dog in this fight”. I consider the local obsession with college sports to have become a form of ridiculous mass hysteria with its palaces and edifices, huge budgets, and million dollar coaches. The whole matter detracts and distracts incredibly from the mission of a University in my ever-so-humble opinion. It doesn’t make it any less stupid to me whether they use chieftains, cheeseballs, or honey-nut cheerios for mascots.
I must admit that I like the idea of cheerios as mascots and a dancing cerealistic Zero, nay, a legion of Zeroes, rolling around and cavorting on Ron Zook’s 50-yard line at half-time to passionate strains of “Oskee Wow-Wow, Illinois!“ might be appropriate in a Seussian sort of way.
Whatever...
Whatever - I’m white and yer just a person to me. All I’m seeing here is an outlet for some seriously demented passion. Who cares, he got busted and served, move on. We’re just people these days - this shits gotta get old sometime…
e. wayne johnson
Some question about what this matter says about our local population.
Although I am not exactly part of the “CHIEF Yesterday-Today-Forever” Crowd, I am familiar with them and understand how they think.
They would perceive the backwardized spelling of Fighting Illini as Incredibly Offensive, since many of them would associate backwards stuff (backwards writing, backwards music) with Satanism and Evil. The rest would just think that somehow the artist is making fun of the Fighting Illini. Even I perceive it that it’s mocking the Illini, but I would rather enjoy it because I don’t like the Fighting Illini either. My favourite version of the Fight Song, which they are generally walking worthy of starts out: “We’re laughing at you, Illinois, for the game you just blew, Illinois…“
But, if you hang around awhile in Champaign-Urbana, you will find that there are still a lot of vehicles with pro-Chief stickers and lots of pro-Chief T-shirts and paraphernalia around town. And more than half of the student body was pro-Chief at an recent referendum on campus. 90% of those people are Not anti-Native American. They just like the Chief.
Some how he brought some meaning into their otherwise miserable and pathetic lives. They miss the Chief and they are sick about it and mad as hell about it.
My boys got some free tickets to a miserable and pathetic basketball game of the U of I against puny little Eastern Carolina or some such backwater liberal arts college, so out into the icy parking lots of Assembly Hall we went for the most expensive popcorn and soda pop east of the Potomac and an evening of pure torture that would make even Rove and Cheney blush. Eastern Carolina almost beat Illinois, but failed because they played even more poorly than Illinois did. It was my first Illinois basketball game in 35 years (since 1973). I got enough of Illinois basketball that night that I can now make it for another 35, thank you.
But the thing that I noticed most clearly was how many people there were with “CHIEF” sweatshirts, and the mournful cry “Chief…?“ at the time in the ridiculous event when Illiniwek was supposed to do his dance. The most surreal part for me as a virtual foreigner, an unwilling observer in this pageant of despair, was the absolute impotence of the crowd do anything about it.
There is an Anti-Chief crowd and a Pro-Chief crowd that is by necessity, Anti-(Anti-Chief). Now, if that same 5-neuron guy who came up with the character of Chief Illiniwek had thought of a Dancing Bear instead, it would be the animal rights crowd vs the Pro-Dancing Bear crowd, and since Bears don’t make plastic signs, we’d probably all be a lot happier and better off too.
There is no way one can bring in a potentially offensive exhibit like “Beyond the Chief” into this bruised situation and not get a negative response.
But actually, I do think that Heap of Birds is far from innocent, and the coyest being displayed is a Heap or maybe just a Crock.
So what it says about the local population is that it is made up of people.
Ahh...
...faith in humanity restored. Thanks E.
Richard Lui
nicely done Mr. Johnson.
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“I have some reading to catch up on, poolside.“ Classic.
What sticks in my neck is that most noise (unwanted sound) is a violation of the law. So why is it often so difficult to get the authorities to address the issue? Why are the anti-social elements so protected? These lowlife induviduals now seem to have the…
Spirit echoes - http://www.iainandjane.com/work/silentsound/index.shtml
People are entitled to peace and quiet. That gift has been lost and once lost is hard to regain. Anti-noise activitists fight for everyone’s right to have peace and quiet. Thanks to those that fight for our right to peace and quiet.
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Illinois has simply had no luck at all in these Mizzou games. None. I think maybe we’re do for a couple of bounces to go our way. If we get one or two (or sever or eight) breaks, I think it’s a win.
Jason, Savoy could easily join the CPL tax district, which is probably closer to most Savoy residents than the Tolono library is. But my impression is that Savoy residents as a whole don’t want to pay the cost of the CPL (Tolono’s library taxes are cheaper), even…
Sorry, but I am lagging behind on updates to the map. Also, some construction projects were delayed from their original start date. On a more positive note, I am putting together a map of haunted houses in Central Illinois. I have a few plotted already, and I…
I’ve never gotten the privilege of all the services CPL cardholders get. I just want to be able to go out of my way to drive to the CPL to check out books, pay fines, maybe buy some coffee, and enjoy the library. None of those activities…
These days, there is more to using a library than checking out books. At one time, paying into the Lincoln Trails system probably would cover the expenses incurred by other libraries in the system. Now, with Internet, videos, coffee shops, wireless Internet hubs, etc., I suspect the…
(speaking as a Savoy resident) By paying taxes to support a member of the LTLS, we are paying our “fair share” to use any LTLS library—Tolono, Champaign, Urbana, etc. This is how library systems work. The 6% of CPL’s circulation represented by Tolono users is NOT significant…
I read Timbo’s argument. I think the key word is “speculating.“
I would be interested to hear more about the “word on the street”—how are individual hauling companies fulfilling their promise to recycle?
Timbo makes a smart, sound argument. Reread it.
I joined on 09-09-09 after living here over a year, and having to listen to my dad tell me how his best friend is, like, #27 or something crazy like that, and how said friend never lived further than 50 feet from the Illini Inn while going…
And, I might add, no one is being prevented from using the Champaign library. They are just being asked to pay their fair share if they are going to use it as their primary library.
The equation is pretty simple here. If you want social services, then pay the taxes required to run those social services. These things only work if everyone puts in their fair share. As a heavy user of the Champaign Library, I say bravo to this new policy.
Curtis Orchard is always good for an hour or three, especially if you have rugrats.
What is the increased marginal cost of serving a resident of Savoy or Mahomet? I suspect negligible. What is the increased revenue to be realized by this new policy? I suspect very little. Aside from these financial aspects, what are the most probable results from this new…
Looks like you are also all members of the killer sideburns club.
Thanks for the article, Ben. I was not familiar with this band until now and even though I won’t be able to attend the show on Friday they are now on my radar. A *good* jam band is hard to find, and these folks appear to fill…
Nice article, love the Dead quote in the beginning. If they can get down here to Central FL I’ll definitely be heading out to the show. Some of my friends have finally stopped wincing when I say “jam band.“ I’ve now tried my best at more descriptive…
@Annie: Yeah, my bad. That was the best part! Drinking + memory exercises = fun @Rob: According to Ask the English Teacher, “My dictionary says ‘drunk’ is an archaic past tense of ‘drink.‘“ We’re all about the new grammar around here.
Katie, have the residents of Savoy and Tolono thought about having their taxes raised a little to help their public library expand? That’s a possibility for them. And then everybody wins.
good call on that Herring recording, Josh. Love that version of Exit Music….here’s a clip of the Cinco de Mayo show (from about six months prior). As I recall, this Shakedown went on for roughly a half hour, while getting into the Trampled Underfoot jam in the…
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Sorry, but I am lagging behind on updates to the map. Also, some construction projects were delayed from their original start date. On a more positive note, I am putting together a map of haunted houses in Central Illinois. I have a few plotted already, and I…