Saturday, July 4, 2009 East Central Illinois
Chief's Illiniwek Last Dance

Slide showVideo of the Chief's Last Dance Photogalleries

STORIES

Fans send Chief Illiniwek out in style

February 22, 2007 3:33 PM CST

CHAMPAIGN – All eyes of Illini fans were looking upward at halftime of Wednesday's basketball game, as a video tribute to Chief Illiniwek played on the scoreboard.

Many captured the tribute on digital cameras, then turned to the tunnel in anticipation. Full story »

Also…

Recent UI graduate accused of stealing signs last weekend

June 19, 2009 8:24 AM CST

URBANA – University of Illinois police have arrested a recent UI graduate for the theft of two signs that were part of a Native American art project on the UI campus.

Mark Nepermann, 21, a May graduate in fine and applied arts from Batavia, was arraigned Thursday on a single count of misdemeanor theft alleging he stole signs valued at less than $300 from the UI and Edgar Heap of Birds on Saturday.

Suspect sought in art theft at UI's Native American building

June 16, 2009 9:22 AM CST

URBANA – University of Illinois police are seeking help identifying a man who is a suspect in the theft of art signs on the UI campus.

UI police report that two pieces of sign-like artwork were stolen from in front of the Native American Studies building, 1206 W. Nevada Ave., U, between 5 p.m. Friday and 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

'Native Hosts' artist surprised, sad to see signs vandalized

May 17, 2009 8:45 AM CST

I'm not a seer or a prophet, but when I first saw Edgar Heap of Birds's "Native Hosts" signs on Nevada Street on campus, I figured they'd eventually be vandalized. Maybe I'm a pessimist, or maybe I've just read too many letters to the editor of this newspaper.

So I was not surprised that four signs so far in his "Beyond the Chief" series have been damaged. No vandals have been apprehended yet.

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