To: All Faculty & All Academic Professionals & All Civil Service Staff &
           All Undergrad Students & All Grad Students <everybody@illinois.edu> 
    From: "Chancellor Michael Aiken" <aiken@uiuc.edu>

Reply-To: chancellor@uiuc.edu
 Subject: MASSMAIL - Homecoming and Fan Behavior

To:   Faculty, Staff and Students

From:  Chancellor Michael Aiken

	The following letter is being printed this week in the Daily Illini 
and the News-Gazette, and I am also sending it by email today to the campus 
community.


To the Campus Community, Alumni and Other Illini Fans:

	The week of October 8-15, 2000, is Homecoming week.  We were one of 
the first, if not the first, universities to celebrate Homecoming.  
Therefore, I want to encourage all members of our community to participate 
in Homecoming activities, including attendance at the football game with 
Iowa on Saturday.

Home football weekends on the Urbana-Champaign campus are usually  
characterized by an atmosphere of spirited competition and friendly 
rivalry.  And, certainly the vast majority of those who participate in 
events on football weekends do so in a positive, courteous and responsible 
manner.  I'm greatly concerned, however, by circumstances that developed on 
our campus and in the campustown area at the time of our last home football 
game.  There were, unfortunately, several incidents - before, during and 
after the game - in which some Illinois fans were much less than courteous 
to the Michigan fans, including the booing of the Michigan band.  Such 
behavior is inappropriate, and it damages the reputation of the University.

	When a team comes to our campus for an athletic competition, the 
visiting team, band and fans are our guests, and they should be treated 
courteously and with respect.  Anything less is inconsistent with the 
standards of a world class university.  Good natured kidding and "ribbing" 
are to be expected, but actions such as heckling, cursing, obscene slogans, 
and spitting upon and throwing objects at the team, band and fans from 
another university are inappropriate.

	All of us want to be supportive of Coach Turner and our football 
team, and we wish them all the best as the season continues.  However, we 
dishonor their efforts and their sportsmanship if we indulge in rude and 
insulting behavior toward our guests.

	During the week of  Homecoming, I encourage the members of our 
campus community, our alumni and other loyal Illini fans to participate in 
the Homecoming activities and traditions on our campus.  I also ask that 
all Illini fans treat our Iowa guests with courtesy and respect.

						Michael Aiken
						Chancellor
	
This mailing approved by:
The Office of the Chancellor

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