Fighting Illini Say Goodbye To The Chief

Joel Izaguirre, left, and Dorian Hernandez of Dunn ride some heavy surf at Carolina Beach, N.C. Saturday, May 26, 2012. Strong rip currents created dangerous swimming conditions and prompted Carolina Beach Ocean Rescue to close the beach to swimming and not allow people in past their knees. (AP Photo/The Star-News,Matt Born ) / Matt Born

The University of Illinois will drop its 81-year-old American Indian mascot, Chief Illiniwek, following the last men's basketball home game of the season on Wednesday, officials said.

The move makes the school eligible to host postseason NCAA championship events.

The NCAA in 2005 deemed Illiniwek — portrayed by buckskin-clad students who dance at home football and basketball games and other athletic events — to be an offensive use of American Indian imagery and barred the university from hosting postseason events.

American Indian groups and others have complained for years that the mascot, used since 1926, is demeaning. Supporters of the mascot say it honors the contributions of American Indians to Illinois.

Illinois still will be able to use the name Illini because it's short for Illinois and the school can use the term Fighting Illini, because it's considered a reference to the team's competitive spirit, school officials said. It is unclear if the school will get a new mascot.

"The Chief Illiniwek tradition inspired and thrilled members of the University of Illinois community for 80 years," Board of Trustees Chairman Lawrence Eppley said in a statement. "It was created, carried on and enjoyed by people with great respect for tradition, and we appreciate their dedication and commitment. It will be important now to ensure the accurate recounting and safekeeping of the tradition as an integral part of the history of the university."

The university received a letter from the NCAA dated Thursday that said the school will no longer be banned from hosting postseason events if it ends use of the mascot and related American-Indian imagery.

The NCAA's sanctions thus far have prevented Illinois from hosting only two postseason events, both in low-profile sports.

Athletic director Ron Guenther said he was disappointed in the decision, but that the NCAA's sanction hurt the school's athletes and coaches.

"This is an extremely emotional day for people on both sides of the issue, but the decision announced today ends a two-decade long struggle surrounding Chief Illiniwek on this campus ... ," Guenther said. "Personally, as an alumnus and former athlete, I am disappointed, however, as an administrator, I understand the decision that had to be made."

President Joseph B. White said he supported scrapping Chief Illiniwek.

"While I understand many people have strong feelings about this 80-year-old tradition, for the good of our student-athletes and our university it is time to come together and move on to the next chapter in the history of this distinguished institution," he said.

Basketball coach Bruce Weber said he, too, was disappointed, calling Chief Illiniwek a "tremendous tradition." But Weber also said he understood why the decision was made, pointing out that the NCAA barred the men's tennis team from hosting the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament last May.

"They (the board of trustees) had to make the decision. It's disappointing," he said.

On Friday, a Champaign County Circuit Court judge rejected two students' request for a court order to ban the university from "capitulating to the NCAA by announcing the retirement of Chief Illiniwek."

The NCAA has said it believes its sanctions are legal.

A state district judge in North Dakota in November granted a preliminary injunction in a similar lawsuit filed over the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname and use of American Indian imagery.

In the lawsuit, the students also argued that by imposing sanctions, the NCAA failed to provide due process to the students and the university.

[jrhr87]

Whether you agree with the use of Chief or not, the NCAA's handling of this situation is hypocritical. If the use of Native American mascots and imagery is offensive to all Native Americans, then why is there an exception made just because a tribe grants its approval to use their name and imagery? Aren't the other Native Americans still offended? It's either offensive or it isn't. There are no remaining Illini tribe members to grant their approval to the University of Illinois. The Illini are not here to speak for themselves. If the Seminoles are not offended who is to say that the Illini would have been? Maybe the Illini would have granted their permission instead of having their name and history fade into obscurity since they were not one of the better known tribes.

[pakaal]

Plowhandle wrote "All of this nonsensical ********* about racism and offending the members of a tribe that, long ago, disappeared from the face of the earth makes me truly retch."

It's so easy to talk about others' "*********" - try sniffing what you yourself are shoveling. It's mighty white of you to explain to the rest of us what should and shouldn't be considered racism, cheers mate.

[pakaal]

prcdr wrote: "Once again another liberal poster... You don't like what hroe2 says so you call him a racist.... Let's remove every public symbol, name, and historical reference to every Native American tribe. That way the only thing they will ever be known for is their casinos.

Good one prcdr, you've managed to defend someone you say is not racist and two sentences later manage to show off your own racism. "Only known for their casinos" - ha ha, good one, yeah, "those Indians and their casinos", huh?

It's not like contributions to American culture, lifestyle, half the state names of the United States, keeping the first settlers alive when they reached North America, sports like lacrosse, winning olympic events, fighting against the British in our War of Independence, serving in WW1, WW2, etc., should be remembered or anything, huh?

Yep, great to see crackers like prcdr and hroe2 stepping up to the plate on this issue, you really shine brightly when coopting (while simultaneously insulting) Native Americans.

[pakaal]

hroe2 wrote: "If I were native american, I would feel honored to have the chief as my SYMBOL"

Two hours later, hroe2 wrote: "i am 1/16 native american"

Funny how you got Indian after a couple hours. I'm sure that little "no wait, I AM Native American!" postscript wasn't to bolster your argument, no of course not.

[plowhandle]

All of this nonsensical ********* about racism and offending the members of a tribe that, long ago, disappeared from the face of the earth makes me truly retch. If any members of this tribe are still around, their bloodline is sooooooo diluted as to render their claims worth *******.

The fact of the matter remains that the Univesity of Illinois is going to lose the support and onations of untold thousands of alumni - right as they embark upon an expansion plan that will take millions. They'll try to get public funding, but we voters in Illinois will have to turn down funding, reminding the hoary academicians of their BAD JUDGEMENT in trying to be politically correct with a dead horse issue that cost them, ultimately, for their ignorance.

Goodbye Chief Illiniwek ? Goodbye U of I !

[hroe2]

sshankin, just to let you know, i am 1/16 native american and IN 1926, THE ILLINIWEK TRIBE GAVE THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS PERMISSION TO USE THE CHIEF AS OUR SYMBOL. know your facts before you embarrass yourself again.

[prcdr]

sshankin

Once again another liberal poster who falls back on the pathetic tactic of attacking the person not the message! You don't like what hroe2 says so you call him a racist.

He never said that Native Americans don't have a right to be offended. He said that he wouldn't be offended.

But I agree with you. Let's remove every public symbol, name, and historical reference to every Native American tribe. That way the only thing they will ever be known for is their casinos.

[sshankin]

hroe2

First of all, you ARE NOT Native American, so you have no right to state what may or may not be deemed offensive to this ethnic group! Fact of the matter is, Chief Illiniwek (although represented more accurately than other symbols) is still offensive. It is taking the name, "Illini" and the representation of the Chief, which may be SYMBOLS to you, but are just stolen culture to others.

And maybe this ethnic group doesn't want their image being publicized and exposed to the entire nation to witness. Many Nations have customs that are only supposed to be seen or discussed privately throughout their specific NATION, not in front of 50,000+ of stadium members.

Furthermore, this is a racial group of people that were and still are suppressed, and are now being marketed all while seeing none of the revenue. How is that fair? To decimate an entire group of people, then publicize them to make money! That is completely unacceptable and in my humble opinion should have been changed long ago (along with FSU, the ATL Braves, and the Cleveland Indians [as well as many others]).

So maybe you should take a less self-centered and egotistical view before attempting to defend and support a raciest argument!

[tima410]

Doesn't anyone see the hipprocracy in the NCAA having PONTIAC as a primary sponsor of events. I would maintain that the use of the name Pontiac as it refers to a strictly commericial entity whose purpose is to take advantage of native customers and exploit the name and image to portray a particular image is inappropriate and hippocritical. I would recommend a boycott of Pontiac products as long as the NCAA continues to take money from them.

[hroe2]

As a student at the University of Illinois and a former Fighting Illini cheerleader, I would first of all like to say that the chief was a symbol, not a mascot. If you did know that, then you obviously don't know enough about our tradition to open your mouth in such a debate. If anything, we loved the chief. If I were native american, I would feel honored to have the chief as my SYMBOL. Everytime the chief walked into the stadium, fans stood and showed respect. Out of dignity and pride, not one fan would dare consider turning their back towards the chief. The only people that would have even thought about turning their backs were hypocritic native americans themselves. Our cheif wore an authentic Illiniwek costume, and performed an authentic Illiniwek dance at halftime. Every year, the chief attended a camp teaching him the traditions of the Illiniwek tribe and how to properly conduct himself. He was no longer just a normal student, but the representation of our university. If any school should have their mascot taken away, it should have been Notre Dame. He was not just some "mascot" running around portraying an offensive image, but a SYMBOL that was more respected than any other school's mascot. So before you continue to let another ignorant comment come out of your mouth, at least have the intelligence to put up a decent argument.