Finally! Been a long time comin'.

Posted by rmitchell on February 16, 2007 at 9:42 AM Suggest Removal

He'll be missed by many.

But I am sure that everyone on campus will be better off without a divisive mascot. Everywhere else I've ever been or known of, the mascot is a critter meant to unify and rally the crowd.

And maybe the millions of dollars the UI spends every year defending the chief can be spent on education or improving buildings. I wonder how many parents were happy to spend $500 to $1000 per year to defend the chief? Maybe tuition can go down, or they can at least hire some faculty and fix up the place. (Ever seen Lincoln Hall? It is a national embarassment!)

And the EU will now surely not even vote on the legislation they proposed to no honor degrees from the UI. I don't know how many UI grads want to work in Europe, but I am sure some do.

All in all, a good thing. I am sure donors will keep giving. I was at Stanford when the "Indians" mascot was decomissioned. Out of almost one million threats never to give again to Stanford if they eliminated the Indian mascot, only about 100 had ever given anything (and the total gift was pitifully small). I strongly suspect it is the same at UI. Of course, UI never looked into whether or not those making threats gave enough money to worry about.

Posted by DEB on February 16, 2007 at 11:34 AM Suggest Removal

This is the saddest day in our proud university's history.

Posted by dthonn on February 16, 2007 at 11:58 AM Suggest Removal

One point that occurs to me and has never been mentioned to my knowledge is that the anti-Chief elements (whom I believe to be ultra-PC zealots) see the University of Illinois as a "soft target." For instance, you don't see them trying to pressure the Washington Redskins, Chicago Blackhawks (right on Emil Jones' doorstep even), Cleveland Indians (what about Chief Wahoo -a cartoonish caracature), Atlanta Braves or the leagues that operate them.

As a prestigious and progressive educational institution that cares how it is perceived, the UofI has been selectively attacked for years by these people. I for one am sorry they have now seemingly prevailed.

GO ILLINI

Posted by jeffh on February 16, 2007 at 12:30 PM Suggest Removal

Unbelievable!! An 80 year old honored tradition is being discontinued by a clear minority opinion (not even near a majority) and a group of dictatorial misguided fools in Shawnee Mission. It's time to get a spine and show these manipulating fools the error of their ways...like the good folks in N. Dakota!! Do you really think the Redskins or the Chiefs are going to change? They refuse to be bullied. Is this the true ILLINI spirit?

Posted by mustwhiz on February 16, 2007 at 12:53 PM Suggest Removal

The end of the Chief is bad enough, but the way it was done is dishonorable. Why not a farewell tour during the upcoming football season when tens of thousands of fans could pay their final respects (and generate hundreds of thousands of dollars) versus the non-revenue sports hosting a couple of NCAA tournament events for a very few fans and a couple of bucks? The U of I has changed the great tradition of the Three-In-One for the Three-and-None. For me, NO CHIEF&NO MONEY!!!

Posted by illinijd76 on February 16, 2007 at 12:58 PM Suggest Removal

This is a great day for the Uof I. The cheif is one of the dummbest mascots in college history.

Good riddance!!

Posted by aratnakar on February 16, 2007 at 1:02 PM Suggest Removal

Hey aratnakar- you better cover up with a stronger shell, Mrs. ultra-sensitive. First off, try to spell CHIEF correctly.

Then, dummy, try again in your efforts to spell DUMBEST.

Then, try and remember that the CHIEF is a SYMBOL, not a mascot.

Posted by mbeesley on February 16, 2007 at 2:14 PM Suggest Removal

How will today's people remember the Illiniwek and the Potawatami people? For most, they have never existed, since they have never heard or read; hence, they will not be remembered.

The Jesuit fathers were probably the last to remember the history of these sovereign nations; the last to see and record the Illiniwek's earthly demise at Starved Rock.

In their wisdom and humility, our forefathers honored and forever memorialized our vanquished guardians and hosts by the naming of our great state....Illinois.

I prefer Chief Illiniwek's portrayal of the ancient Illiniwek ideal than the sorrowful reality of contemporary Indian society, a society that lobbies for casinos and special dispensations to sell tobacco; a society in disarray.

In the fictionalized film "Amadeus", Antonio Saleiri, realizes the dimness of his musical gift when compared to Mozart's gift and further realizes that the human condition seldom exceeds mediocrity. As their patron saint of mediocrity, He absolves his fellow asylum inmates for the mediocrity of their lives. We should not be harsh towards "Perfesser" Kaufmann, Emil Jones, Lawrence Eppley and their fellow travelers, for they cannot rise above the smallness of their lives and are compelled by envy to destroy what most find as good. May Saint Salieri absolve them of their mediocrity and may Chief Illiniwek forever be revered and remembered.

Posted by mbeesley on February 16, 2007 at 3:33 PM Suggest Removal

The objection to the "Chief" for me has always been one of sensitivity; those European settlers who destroyed Indian culture on this continent appropriated the perceived admirable aspects of our native Americans to make themselves feel good, almost totally at sporting events. Sports uber alles! Most native Americans resented that, especially having phony characters (white male in general) representing a factitious Indian dance, and I can understand and sympathize. Hence I side with them. Good riddance to that factitious chief!.

Posted by mkb on February 16, 2007 at 4:43 PM Suggest Removal

In the sidebar story about the filing of the lawsuit by the incumbent chief and his assistant chief, it was stated that the two were being given academic credit for performing at half-time at football and basketball games (just like the Illinettes who get Band 103 credit for performing, or should I say "wiggling their fannies", at half-tiome too).

It is totally incredulous that the vaunted University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a world-clas research unvirsity where nylon, the transistor and a host of other significant inventions that improved the world grants academic credit for these "performances". Unebleivable couldn'tescrie it better.

Posted by gdkgeo on February 16, 2007 at 4:50 PM Suggest Removal

I deserve the slams on my spelling. It was a rush job. I just think the Chief was always a boring symobol/mascot.

I'm very happy we will not see anymore

Posted by aratnakar on February 16, 2007 at 5:00 PM Suggest Removal

This is truly a sad day for the U of I community. The honor and tradition that I experienced while attending Illinois will be missed by upcoming generations. I always honored the Chief and everything he represented. I am very sorry that my son or daughter will not know the same feeling that I felt during football and basketball games.

Posted by uiuchauser on February 16, 2007 at 5:25 PM Suggest Removal

It is difficult to understand how we in the majority lose to the few. This is much the same as the argument over "In God We Trust", prayer in schools or the Pledge of Allegiance. Though the poll numbers show over whelming support to the contrary....the voice of the few wins the day. My admiration goes out to Roger Huddleston and his group for putting up the good fight.

Posted by tcheatum on February 16, 2007 at 5:26 PM Suggest Removal

I'm glad that the Board of Trustees decided to finally bite the bullet. Now it's all over but the whining.

Posted by zemblan on February 16, 2007 at 5:33 PM Suggest Removal

The retirement of a college sports mascot does nothing to improve the lives of the Native American people nor does it in any way improve race relations on a more global scale.

This debate has been an absurd waste of resources in both money and man hours, and the entire exercise has been little more than a side-show obscuring real socioeconomic issues that have absolutely nothing to do with Chief Illini.

There are many who will inevitably see today's decision as some far reaching "victory" to be celebrated, and it would do them well to consider carefully what they are celebrating today. Nothing was accomplished.

Racism did not go away with the retiring of The Chief. Native Americans on reservations have not been instantly catapulted out of poverty as a result of the retiring of The Chief. Ignorance and misconceptions regarding the history and tradition of Native American cultures did not suddenly give way to enlightenment due to the retiring of The Chief.

The Chief will be retired, but I doubt that The Debate will be retired with him.

Posted by MGranse on February 16, 2007 at 5:43 PM Suggest Removal

I grew up in Champaign, then graduated from the University. I saw every home football and basketball game from 1974 to 1997. I moved to Michigan, and was a lifelong Illini fan until today. The University of Illinois has ceased to exist based on the decision made today. To all of you that supported this, you have lost.

Posted by dtjack on February 16, 2007 at 5:46 PM Suggest Removal

I am saddened that the decision was made to make Chief Illiniwek disappear. As I told the NCAA committee over a year ago, instead of trying to better understand Indian culture, I fear we are "just putting them back on the reservation" with the removal of the Chief...much like the original "Removal" for which I am a descendent. I grew up in awe of the Chief. Something I never experienced towards the Atlanta Braves. I think it is a big mistake to make the Chief disappear. Since the U of I as never had a mascot, I recommend that we don't try to replace the Chief with something else. I think a mascot should be absent. That way we can treat the Chief just the way our American Indians have been treated already and apparently want continued.

Posted by chonmom on February 16, 2007 at 6:03 PM Suggest Removal

The University of Illinois administration got what it wanted. The NCAA got what it wanted. Professer Kaufman got what he wanted. Everybody got what they wanted but the majority. Unfortunately, that seems to be America these days.

Posted by Frank Dutton on February 16, 2007 at 7:07 PM Suggest Removal

What a sight it would be if EVERYONE in orange leaves the hall next Wed. after the Chief at the half. The U of I wants to say farewell to the Chief. Out of respect for the Chief, it would be neat to show them life without Illini fans for the 2nd half. Ill not attending anymore games.

Posted by BigD on February 16, 2007 at 7:23 PM Suggest Removal

The retirement of our college sports mascot (Chief Illiniwek) did NOTHING to improve the lives of the Native American people nor did it in any way improve race relations for any one else on our campus or anywhere else. I believe in the long run it has probably made it worse ... That is what happens when the "few" try to control the Majority. You can't take (or threaten to take) anything that was so close to peoples hearts and not expect "retaliatory (sp)" rhetoric.The Chief symbol meant "Pride - Strength - Loyalty - among other things" to so many thousands of people and they all can't be so totally wrong.

This is truly a sad day for many.

Posted by ilpakmay on February 16, 2007 at 8:18 PM Suggest Removal

As all alums I am saddened by the loss of the "Chief", but I was expecting this day to come. What hurts more is that he was suppose to be retired in a dignified and respectful way, celebrating the years of tradition that was a part of the Illini Tradition. But instead the Board of Directors chose to quickly enforce this and have his last performance be at a basketball game less than a week away that is not even nationally televised. How can the Board say they allowed the fans the chance to send the Chief off with respect and dignity? They should at least wait until the first game of the football season when more fans would be able to attend with more than a five day warning.

If this is the Boards idea of Dignity and Respect, the University is in trouble.

Posted by Louie on February 16, 2007 at 8:36 PM Suggest Removal

To DEB

Could you please cite your source for the proposed EU bill that would not honor a degree from the University of Illinois? The University has one of the strongest EU academic partnerships in the country. Maybe you just heard it from a friend...

Posted by thatguy72 on February 16, 2007 at 8:45 PM Suggest Removal

Bring back Wampum and Mupmaw! Maybe they'll be able to talk the Chief into coming back too.

Posted by hsmith on February 16, 2007 at 9:20 PM Suggest Removal

Jank- As you say, "The work goes on!". At what point do we rename the state of Illinois? While we are at it, at what point does any word in the English language derived out of the Indian heritage get changed?

What were the Illiniwek, if not "fighting"? Granted, they were not the best fighters, so is your leftist organization seeking a change to the 'Slaughtered Illini'?

Posted by mbeesley on February 16, 2007 at 10:14 PM Suggest Removal

Jank, you are making my point for me and you do not even realize it.

The "work" of which you speak has not done a single thing for Native Americans. On top of which, should you accomplish your goals as listed in your previous post you will still have done nothing for Native Americans.

I am going to get myself into sooooooo much trouble for saying this so anyone who is easily offended should probably stop reading now . . .

***COLLEGE MASCOTS ARE NOT THE CAUSE OF RACISM***

Chief Illini has been in existence for only 80 years, and the worst atrocities ever perpetrated against Native Americans (there have been many) happened before the creation of The Chief.

My own ancestors stumbled off a boat in a drunken Irish haze without a penny to their name. They were subjected to all manners of injustice and ridicule, and worked menial jobs for subhuman wages. There is a college mascot named for them, and he is a lepercaunish green suited top hat wearing guy who does not look anything like my family. My ancestors could not have afforded such a suit and hat, and as hard as they worked they probably had very little time for sports or fighting.

Despite these inaccurate stereotypes, the mascot at Notre Dame remains in place. I'm not a lepercaun, I don't own a green suit and top hat, and I doubt that people who enjoy sporting events at Notre Dame think that I am a lepercaun. This incorrectly portrayed version of my ancestors has not caused widespread confusion about me nor has it been a source of embarrassment or anger for my family. I do not feel as though persons of Irish descent are being slighted by this fictional caricature of The Irish.

If you want to do something to help Native Americans, do something meaningful with your time and effort. I would suggest getting involved with a construction project on a reservation or assisting in lobbying efforts for pro Native American legislation. Fighting against fictional characters is an absolute waste of time.

Posted by MGranse on February 16, 2007 at 11:57 PM Suggest Removal

LOYAL CHIEF FANS PLEASE BOYCOTT SECOND 1/2 OF GAME WED. U of I needs to know the REAL majority.

Posted by BigD on February 16, 2007 at 10:50 PM Suggest Removal

It's a *mascot*. It's a guy in a costume. This particular costume offends the people it's supposed to represent (i.e. Native Americans) so what's the big deal about getting a different costume?

Seriously. There are more important things to worry about than the Chief. You can always get another costume.

Posted by popefelix on February 16, 2007 at 11:21 PM Suggest Removal

Thank goodness this is over and done with. Let's please involve ourselves with the great issues of our day in the world, to say nothing of UI faculty/student retention, the huge deferred campus maintenance bill, and grad benefits/stipends, to name but a few. It is absurd that a major research university has had the stigma of this spectre hanging over it for years. Now let's get on with it!!

Posted by ddf1972 on February 17, 2007 at 12:07 AM Suggest Removal

Hooray for the victory! But we cannot and will not stop here. We must continue this might until the use of "Fighting Illini" no longer disgraces this world class institution (and let us not forget its the school that's important, not the [T]hief.

Good look scraping all those "[T]hief yesterday, today and forever" stickers off those vehicles. (BTW that was also the mantra for segregation).

I couldn't be more proud to be a (current) student at this university, and I couldn't be more proud of the courage displayed by a previously disgraced Board of Trustees.

But we must continue the good fight to rid our school from such a despicable name, "Fighting Illini."

Posted by Sagacious on February 17, 2007 at 12:56 AM Suggest Removal

might=fight; its=it's; typos, so don't bother with comments

I'm just so excited to have won this battle for all my colleagues who have worked so hard over the years to see this day finally arrive!!!

Congratulations comrades!

Posted by Sagacious on February 17, 2007 at 1:00 AM Suggest Removal

"What a sight it would be if EVERYONE in orange leaves the hall next Wed. after the Chief at the half. The U of I wants to say farewell to the Chief. Out of respect for the Chief, it would be neat to show them life without Illini fans for the 2nd half. Ill not attending anymore games."

Posted by BigD on February 16, 2007 at 7:23 PM

Reply: No one will see your proposed walk out anyway. It's not on television. It might make page 3 of the N-G sports section.

Posted by Sagacious on February 17, 2007 at 1:03 AM Suggest Removal

I'm really, really happy to see the "Cheef" go. (So is my eighty-four-year-old aunt, by the way, who thought that ridiculous display stank the first time she saw it fifty years or more ago.) And, no, I'm not going to "honor" it with the correct spelling, since it was about as Native American as Cheez Whiz is cheese. This was never more than a white person's (tasteless) fantasy of what American Indian life represented, as shown by some comments here that suggest that white people rightfully "own" the image of a people who can't maintain it properly themselves. Brother.

It was also extremely irritating to me to hear constantly that this was an issue only for "outsiders"--i.e., those pesky black people in Chicago and Springfield, I suppose, who according to Loren Tate "introduce race into the issue" apparently just by TWB (talking while black), not to mention Indian groups themselves. This is an internationally recognized university, after all, drawing its staff and its students from all over the world, and not--shocking though this may be to some, I know--just an excuse for the Greater Champaign-Urbana Football Club and Tailgating Society.

Anyway, I come from the same kind of humble Champaign family who make up the bulk of the "Cheef"'s supporters (judging by the predominance of old beaters and trade vans among the vehicles sporting pro-"Cheef" stickers) and went on to earn three degrees from this university, including a PhD, so it's also just not true that even the locals all "luuv" the Cheef and that all of us who opposed it came from "outside." But I was brought up to think that if the people you claim to be honoring tell you they don't feel honored, common courtesy says that's the end of it. (You also have to ask them directly through proper channels, and then listen to what their organizations decide--no sneaking off to anonymous polls in Sports Illustrated as if "real" Indians can't possibly wear suits and sit on the boards of their own organizations.) They actually still hold their heads up in the modern world, you know--amazing, isn't it??-- and now at long last so can the U of I.

Posted by 17771aa on February 17, 2007 at 1:05 AM Suggest Removal

Keep up the good fight! I'm proud of everyone who has held the line against this type of racism. Mascots are for rallying your team, not trying to "educate" fans, both sober and drunk, on a culture that you obviously know nothing about. A non-Indian dressed up as a Native and flying through the air at halftime teaches NOTHING about the Native culture . This would be comparable to me watching the Vikings mascot Ragnar and learning about the Scandanavians, or watching a leprechaun (which doesn't exist, by the way) and learning about the Irish people, it just doesn't happen. To the leaders who led the charge on this change, Wopila! THANK YOU!

Posted by Plainswarrior on February 17, 2007 at 1:09 AM Suggest Removal

And one more thing, Fighting Illini fans, www.ncai.org, all but a handful of these 500+ federally recognized tribes DO NOT have mascots/logos imitating them, yet they are still there, go figure. I guess you can survive without honorthechief people after all.

Posted by Plainswarrior on February 17, 2007 at 1:14 AM Suggest Removal

Sagacous,

I can understand your feeling about the chief but what is your problem with the term Fighting Illini? Illini is a derivation of Illinois and Fighting is term that is used every day indicating your efforts to achieve a goal. You really must explain yourself.

If Fighting Illini is truly wrong then so is the name Illinois. Maybe we should rename the school the University of Nothing......

Posted by Louie on February 17, 2007 at 8:41 AM Suggest Removal

I was hoping that all of you that have invested hours eliminating the Chief could now turn your efforts to Sparty and Purdue Pete.

How terribly disrespectful. How unfair for decendents of men who used to make boilers and Spartan warriors to have to live with the mockery at Purdue and Michigan State home games.

How offensive to suggest that all boiler makers have or had big heads. Mascot, symbol, costume- it JUST doesn't matter, this is so wrong; it must change. NOW.

Please double down your efforts and head to West Lafayette; then to East Lansing.

Posted by uofimort on February 17, 2007 at 9:47 AM Suggest Removal

Sagacous,

As an alum, you better hope that you never come in front of me for an interview. Your whiny left-wing extremist attitude will only have you flipping burgers and serving me lunch once you graduate.

Wake up kid and realize that the world is not filled with hate. It is left-wing zealots like you that will not let hate die. The reason why is you get your jollies off of these tyes of things. Once hate dies (which it would if idiots like you would stop) then what are you going to do?

I am sure your parents are proud that you are spending thier tuition payments worrying about this instead of doing what you are supposed to do and that is getting an education.

Posted by karlyn1219 on February 17, 2007 at 9:58 AM Suggest Removal

The use of Greek names as mascots is racially offensive and demeaning to Greeks. As an animal lover I am against using animals as mascots; PETA where are you? Let the lunacy continue with the politcally correct crowd; abolish all mascots and symbols.

The NCAA played the money card and the esteemed Board of Trustees acquiesced. This decision was not unanimous. Money talks in the end.

Posted by cbebt01 on February 17, 2007 at 10:03 AM Suggest Removal

If we weren't heading to the NIT this year in BB, this would have waited.

Posted by dtjack on February 17, 2007 at 7:38 PM Suggest Removal

I am not going to repeat the same thing that everyone else has. I am not happy about the way things happen, but what can one say, money still turns the world. I think the Chief should have been changed in a way to make both sides happy, but again money is a factor. If we don't handle issues like this one better, America will keep sliding down a path that is not a good one. Wake up both sides and everyone in the middle. Look back at our past and the worlds past, and one can see where this country is going if issues like this keep getting resolved like this. Go Fighting Illini! O wait, cannot say that. Go Fighting Illinoisans! O wait, cannot say that either, still has an American Indian name in it. Go Fighting Columns! O wait, fighting sounds like we are war like people. Go Standing Columns! Yeah that one should not offend anyone. O wait the Greeks, Romans and others who use Columns might get mad. How about Go!

Posted by commonsense1138 on February 17, 2007 at 10:45 PM Suggest Removal

As someone who moved here three years ago from a state with a large number of Native Americans, this whole chief thing has revealed a really ugly side to the people of this state - meaning the white majority, who seem to think that because they run things, right and wrong don't matter because they are in the majority. If a majority want to keep a white guy dancing around like a goosesteping bunny as a mascot representing Indians and those same Indians object, well, too bad. Call them names, vandalize their propety and abuse them at every opportunity. Try being honest for a change - you couldn't care less about Indians, you just want to keep this ridiculous spectacle because its tied to your sports teams - who cares if it offends. They are not PC people who object, they are real life Native Americans, and their dances and costumes are a huge part of their spirituality. All you know of Indians are casinos - try reading a book about them or go see a real-life powwow like the Gathering of Nations. But you won't because you don't care about Indians, which means your claims of 'honoring' Indians is totally without merit. The actions of fans, this newspaper and the officials of the University toward them have been a disgrace in this controversy. It's not too late to change but the immature and bigoted reactions of Illini fans prove they won't - and that the protestors were right all along.

Posted by Steve1us on February 19, 2007 at 1:17 PM Suggest Removal

There are a lot of people posting comments here who need to become educated on Chief Illiniwek. I suggest watching the DVD entitled "The Chief and the Tradition". The Chief doesn't dance around like a "goosestepping bunny". It is an authentic Native-American dance and was taught to past Chiefs directly by Native-Americans. Native Americans have honored and encouraged the University and its portrayal in decades past. One tribe even presented the University with authentic regalia for the Chief to wear at performances. The creation of the Chief was never meant to ridicule Native-Americans. It was created to honor them. Only uneducated people think otherwise.

Posted by khmn on February 24, 2007 at 2:52 PM Suggest Removal

Actually, the fact that the dance and costume was made to look authentic is a reason why it is so offensive and explictly racist. The paint that is worn on the face, and the head dress are sacred to the Native American people. When a white person, who has not earned them in any way, wears these objects it is disrespectful. Also, the dance itself is not authenitc. It was entirely made up for the purposes of the sports event. A 1926 Boy Scout project developed the dance and costume, and the beat was developed by the band director. Even if it were a traditional Native American dance, as a public university they are held to the first amendment which separates church and state.

Posted by Tim on October 11, 2007 at 3:23 PM Suggest Removal

Wow...if you follow that logic, then no one could ever wear anything that wasn't part of their ethnic heritage. That would encompass a lot. The first amendment also addresses freedom of speech and does not place restrictions or limitations on public vs. private.---freedom of speech...period. I find it strangely curious that Native Americans did not perceive the Chief to be offensive for many decades. Suddenly one day he supposedly became offensive. Unfortunately that seems to be the way of the world now. Everything is offensive to someone.

Posted by khmn on October 21, 2007 at 3:15 PM Suggest Removal