The
University of
Illinois was founded before most of the western territories became states, and the Chief has been a deep tradition tied to that spirited school for almost 80 years (that’s almost as long as my Illini side of the family has been there). But this February, the ACLU finally succeeded in removing this proud icon of college sports from the arena.
The ACLU saw Chief Illiniwek as “hostile and abusive.”
What?!?!?!? For one thing, the chief was performed as a human being dressed in full war-garb, not “some bunky beaver,” as my dad would say. The U of I’s portrayal of the Illini chief was one of an inspiring and powerful leader, and a worthy adversary. I would think that an image like that would make Native Americans happy (or at least the non-Native-Americans who have taken up harassment of such college mascots as their cause). The Illinis’ great performance at recent NCAA basketball tournaments is another way that they are carrying the name with respect to make it proud.
What about the Spartans? I’ve seen more high schools and junior high schools with the team name Spartans…. But you don’t hear Gerard Butler or the present residents of the
Peloponnesus getting upset about it. What about the
Minnesota Vikings? All those of Norwegian decent should be up in arms about that. Heck, we should all be upset over the New England PATRIOTS!!! …what about that “winningest high school basketball team,” the Centralia Orphans? Who’s going to stand up for the Ukrainian and Russian orphans being sold for profit by their governments? WHAT ABOUT THE FIGHTING IRISH? Are they next? I mean, the Irish have put up with an awful lot of crap in their history, from prejudice in this country to government induced famine in their own land, does the ACLU intend to strip that Catholic school of an emblem that rallies their students and represents their own history as a University?
At some point, Chief Illiniwek as a symbol was no longer restricted to the hearts of Native Americans. He became a hero to red-neck farmers and pasty white, pencil-necked math nerds. He inspired a heart-full of hope and spirit, and enriched the University experience of the better part of my family.
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I completely agree with you. This is an issue my dad and I have been talking about non-stop ever since it happened. We live in Springfield, and the University of Illinois is a college I was one time considering going to. I really can't believe it happened. After all that time of having that mascot, why is it just now being a problem? As you said, there are other mascots that can be just as "offending" if you really look at it. Like my dad said, the team the Bradley Braves has an Indian name as their mascot, why isn't theirs such a big problem? As you stated, the Native Americans should be proud that they are represented for a school. I know if I was Native American and realized a team had a mascot based off of my background, I would be honored. In the end, I believe it is just a discriminitory thing against the Illini as a whole. I'm sure you remember when they played against North Carolina in the final game of the final four. North Carolina got by with so much that they shouldn't have, and the Illini got fouls called on them that shouldn't have been called. I just don't understand what people have against that University. It seems like a really good college. Too bad all of the student petitions haven't worked. I would love to see something done about this, but I think it's final. The board is just too stubborn. Like I said though, I completely and totally agree with you. Excellent choice of blog topic.