He called on the UI to stop the sale of merchandise with Chief logos, end the association of the nickname "Fighting Illini" with Native Americans, stop supporting appearances by unofficial Chief portrayers at UI events, and stop the appointment of new Chiefs by others, as the symbol is the property of the university.
Kaufman, an emeritus UI professor, said the UI has failed to fulfill the original resolution retiring the Chief, which called for an end to the use of Native Amerian imagery as an athletic symbol along with "the related regalia" and logo.
"There is no place in America for the perpetuation of of racism and racial stereotyping," Kaufman said.
Notably, Kaufman didn't call for dropping the name "Fighting Illini" but restoring it to its "original connotation." He pointed out that the agreement with the NCAA allowing the university to continue using the name urged that it conduct an educational campaign to help people understand its origins and "the lack of any direct association with Native Americans.
The name was originally used to honor soldiers who fought in World War I.
Illinois "can be a leader" in the national movement to remove racial symbols that "dishonor, promote discord & perpetuate racial hostility," Kaufman said said.