Free Republic

Who heard it? A player on the Giants offense gave his college as "University of Chief Illini" in the pre-recorded intros.

The University of Illinois must soon decide whether, and if so how, to fight an exceedingly silly edict from the NCAA. That organization's primary function is to require college athletics to be no more crassly exploitative and commercial than is absolutely necessary. But now the NCAA is going to police cultural sensitivity, as it understands that. Hence the decision to declare Chief Illiniwek "hostile and abusive" to Native Americans.

Another ridiculous mascot controversy from the left.

CHICAGO - Opponents of University of Illinois mascot Chief Illiniwek sued the school's trustees Tuesday, claiming the buckskin-clad figure perpetuates a racial stereotype. In its lawsuit, the Illinois Native American Bar Association and two individuals seek to force the school to stop using the Chief as its sports mascot. "The use of this mascot is outrageous. It's been going on way too long and it should come to an end," said Kim Edward Cook, association president. The Chief is a 78-year-old tradition in which a student dresses in buckskins and headdress and dances at sports events.

The long-running dispute over the University of Illinois' Chief Illiniwek as a symbol will move into a courtroom. Chief Illiniwek has long been a target of Native American groups who say he is demeaning to them. But the mascot still performs at U of I sporting events. At a news conference Tuesday, the Illinois Native American Bar Association announced it filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court. The group says continued use of Illiniwek is racial discrimination and violates civil rights laws. "The University of Illinois ought to be teaching respect for other ethnic minorities, not exploiting them. Continuation...

EUGENE (AP) -- University of Oregon officials say the men's basketball team will play top-ranked Illinois in Chicago this weekend, despite calls from faculty and student groups to cancel the game because the Fighting Illini have an American Indian mascot. University officials, however, agreed to adopt a policy on the scheduling of future games with schools that have mascots deemed offensive. Dan Williams, vice president for administration, told the Eugene Register-Guard newspaper that the university signed contracts to play Illinois in 2004 and 2005, believing the mascot issue would be resolved by now. The University of Illinois board of trustees...

So far: Yes 53.2%

SPRINGFIELD -- Senate President Emil Jones issued an ultimatum to the University of Illinois on Tuesday: Get rid of Chief Illiniwek by next month or face tighter ''scrutiny'' of school spending. In his bluntest terms yet, the Chicago Democrat raised the specter of budget cuts while comparing the U. of I. board of trustees to ''segregationists'' for supporting the costumed mascot that Native American critics decry as an unflattering racial stereotype. ''If our tax dollars are going to the university, and the university is using those tax dollars to permit stereotyping, then I think we should deal with it accordingly,''...

April 15, 2004 (CHAMPAIGN, IL) — Protesters occupied the main administration building on the University of Illinois' Urbana-Champaign campus Thursday demanding that the school eliminate its Chief Illiniwek mascot and associated Indian-head symbol. No one was allowed to enter the building after protesters arrived about 7:25 a.m. "We're prepared to be here for several days," said Jen Tayabji, a former Illinois student who was standing with about 10 other protesters four hours later. They blocked the entrance to the Swanlund Administration Building under a large sign that read, "Sit in against the chief." Tulsi Dharmarajan, a spokeswoman for the group...

U of I trustee tables retirement resolution; lack of support cited November 14, 2003 By JOHN SUPINIE of Copley News Service CHAMPAIGN - Chief Illiniwek lives. But he's still facing high-level opposition in the latest fight that involves the American Indian mascot at the University of Illinois. During Thursday's board of trustees meeting at the Illini Union, Frances Carroll withdrew her resolution to retire the Chief but said she would reintroduce it in March. Carroll, whom Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed to the board earlier this year, said she decided to pull the agenda item at 3 a.m. Thursday after she...

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...

Board of Trustees to vote on Chief retirement Anne Gleason Staff writer The University Board of Trustees may vote on a resolution proposing to retire University symbol Chief Illiniwek at the board meeting on Thursday. The resolution asks that Chief Illiniwek be retired at a time and manner to be determined based on what students, faculty members, staff and alumni at the Urbana campus want. If passed, the Chief will be removed as a symbol, but the Board will continue to support the Fighting Illini name. Several board members said Trustee Frances Carroll was a supporter of the resolution. Carroll's...

The P.C. police continue to try to eliminate Chief Illiniwek as a symbol for the University of Illinois. The Board of Trustees is set to vote tomorrow. Freep this yes or no poll at the website for the U Of I's flagship radio station. Hurry. The good guys are losing.