Chief Illiniwek to be retired.

University e-mail ^ | 2-16-07 | Chancellor Richard Herman

[Rakkasan1]

they should just say the chief was gay. then he could stay.

[Verginius Rufus]

The Aztecs were the Baathists of 16th-century Mexico--most of their neighbors hated them with a passion, which is why most of the forces fighting on the Spanish side were native Mexicans. The name "Aztec" isn't accurate--they were called the Mexica.

[sittnick]

The problem is the NCAA. We need a dozen top tier athletic schools to form their own organization. I think Notre Dame and UNLV would be a good start for schools. Once the monopoly is broken, the NCAA will have to come to grips with the lost revenue.

[Non-Sequitur]

It will be a figid day in Hell before they ever see another dollar from this alum.

[Alouette]

So what will be the replacement? Giant Douche or Turd Sandwich?

[Non-Sequitur]

The sheer stupidity of this all is that the Chief was loved and respected by students and alumni alike.

It's considered an honor to be selected to be Chief Illiniwek. I don't know what it's like today but there were about 120 people there when I tried out back in the 70's. Fortunately for the Chief's reputation I wasn't chosen.

[IL Republican]

Only after the NCAA bans post-season play at any state named after Native Americans.

[oneamericanvoice]

"... I always thought it was done with class and dignity."

I'm not given to being PC, but being Lenape and Cherokee let me say that there is nothing classy or dignified about a non-Indian playing dress-up and acting as he preceives that Indians did or do. If the logo that I remember that was used for stationary, etc is from UI then I thought that was acceptable, but the mascot was not.

[oneamericanvoice]

"Yes, along with a case of Jack Daniels and some poker chips. Apparently, that's the image of Native Americans that's acceptable to PC crowds."

Not at all. But having a non-Indian play dress-up and act as he preceives that Indians did or do is unacceptable.

[Texas Federalist]

Every student should come to the game dressed in an Indian headress with tomahawks just to piss the administration off.

[Non-Sequitur]

I remember that was used for stationary, etc is from UI then I thought that was acceptable, but the mascot was not.

Why one and not the other? Both are imaginary representations of a fictional Native American. If Chief Illiniwek is banned from the games then in all political correctness shouldn't he be banned from logos as well?

[oneamericanvoice]

This would be laughable if it weren't so sad.

[oneamericanvoice]

Just to clarify. You endorse a non-Indian playing dress-up and acting in a manner that he preceives was or is Indian? You would stop your endorsement of a otherwise fine university to the detriment of its students because of a erroneous stereotype? Can't see the university because of the "Indian", I guess.

[oneamericanvoice]

"Why one and not the other? Both are imaginary representations of a fictional Native American. If Chief Illiniwek is banned from the games then in all political correctness shouldn't he be banned from logos as well?"

The logo was, if my memory is correct, a depiction of Pontiac. If I am incorrect in that, it still is about the dignity of the representation. If the logo representation is done to honor the traits of the tribe, then that is acceptable to me. But a dancing, prancing, non-Indian doesn't honor at all. This is just my opinion, and is not popular among most of my Indian friends.

[IL Republican]

The Dance and the outfit where created by descendants of the Peoria tribe (I think, I might be off on the specific tribe), which are the closest descendants of the Illini. The outfit was a gift from the chief of the tribe.

Yes, it is traditionally a white male who portrays the roll, but it is not up to that man to determine the outfit or the dance, they are both as close to authentic as possible.

I personally will continue to donate, as my hatred is more geared towards the NCAA, not the university. To each his own.

[Dixiekraut]

"The chief was loved by the students."?
I saw a show on PBS CALLED "In Whose Honor"?
It detailed the beginnings of the anti-chief movement started by the Native American woman who was an art teacher there..and was upset by the dance the mascot did during a basketball half-time show.
When told by alumni that the students and grads loved their chief...the woman said ..."and I bet that the southerners loved their darkies too".

[oneamericanvoice]

I was not talking about the outfit, although I do have problems with the headress. Guess they couldn't get better eagle-like feathers at the time. I will bet that the dance was not created by "descendants of the Peoria tribe", because it is a "Hollywood" style, not reality. Here's a little aside. There is no such person as a "descendant" of a tribe. You either are that tribe or not. The analogy would be "a little Caucasian". Back to the discussion. I believe the tribe was Illini.

If you really espoused "to each his own" then their would be no hatred. Perhaps if you considered it from the stand point of your own heritage then you might gain some perspective. Take care.

[nascarnation]

yes Myles Brand is a liberal pc twit
I've observed him locally as Prez of Indiana Univ (firing Bob Knight for political incorrectness) and then taking over the whole NCAA in Indianapolis.

[NativeSon]

..."and I bet that the southerners loved their darkies too"

This has always been my point about the mascot/degrading image thing. I would have no problem with the comical Indian caricatures if I could use the dreaded and forbidden "N Word" in daily conversation.

Take the name R*dskin, that word brings us no honor and yet is a product logo.

[IL Republican]

The Illini tribe is no more. There are Members of the Peoria tribe still alive. I forget the relationship (and I don't fully understand tribe's relations to each other), but without actual Illini to go to, the school went to the closest thing that they could find.

My "to each his own" statement was in reference to the giving. I will continue to donate, others will not. It isn't for me to decide how much anyone donates.