Posted on 11/13/2003 6:40:39 PM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
URBANA--A resolution to retire Chief Illiniwek, the mascot that for years has divided the University of Illinois' Urbana-Champaign campus, was withdrawn from the board of trustees' agenda Thursday.
Frances G. Carroll, the trustee who introduced the motion earlier this week to retire the American Indian mascot, said she was withdrawing it because other trustees were upset at the short notice.
Carroll said she would reintroduce the resolution for a vote at the board's July 2004 meeting.
Carroll's resolution called for retiring the chief and the American Indian-head image that adorns banners, sweat shirts and other merchandise advertising the school.
The resolution did express support for the "Fighting Illini" nickname for the school's athletic teams.
"In sensitivity to my esteemed colleagues and their concern for the short notice provided them and the public, I have chosen to protect my motion by withdrawing the resolution and agenda item and to refile it at the July meeting," Carroll said.
The postponement disappointed a crowd of about 500 who had gathered in the Illini Union to hear the board meeting. They were almost equally divided among chief opponents and supporters, and cries of "Shame on you!" and "Cowards!" rang out after Carroll announced her decision.
Chief Illiniwek was created by an assistant band director at the university. The mascot made his first appearance at a football game in 1926.
The chief is portrayed by a student, wearing buckskin clothing and an American Indian headdress, who dances during game halftimes. The chief has never been an American Indian student.
The first protest over the chief was in 1975 when the student yearbook included an excerpt from an essay challenging the mascot.
Opponents of the chief, including several American Indian groups, contend the mascot and symbol are degrading and an unwelcome stereotype.
Supporters of the chief argue he does just the opposite, honoring American Indians and symbolizing their influence on Illinois history. They also argue the 78-year-old tradition should be maintained.
The board of trustees voted in 1990 to make the chief the official symbol of the Urbana-Champaign campus.
Protests over the mascot have continued since then and in February 2000 the board began a yearlong dialogue with students, alumni, American Indian groups and others to determine whether the chief should remain a campus symbol.
In February 2001, 10 of the 12 voting trustees at the time expressed support for the chief, but no formal vote was taken. Several board members suggested looking for a compromise.
A study by former board member Roger Plummer concluded in March 2002 that there was no compromise to be found and recommended that the board either replace the chief with a less offensive mascot or retain him.
The board adjourned that meeting without taking a vote. Every board meeting since has included public comment on both sides of the issue.
Maybe some Champaign-Urbana Freepers can make some noise about the American Indian majority that supports the Chief.
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