I - L - L -

[lovetoscrap]

I-N-I

I am feeling so sad. Chief Illiniwek will be no more. I guess we knew it was coming, but it doesn't make it hurt less.

I was on the Illini Pride Student Athletic Board (best known for Orange Krush) in the late 80's early 90's when the movement began to get rid of him and was in (what I think was) the original Save the Chief group. I still have my Save the Chief t-shirts we had made up.

I am sad for the future generations of Fighting Illini that will not feel that quickening in their heart when he runs out on the field, the rapt attention when he performed his traditional and proud dance, the area children that will not be awed and inspired by his personal appearances to talk about the Native American Culture, those that will no longer understand the culture and heritage and spirit of the Illini Indians that the Chief so proudly portrayed and taught about. And the pride that all Illini felt knowing that we have a symbol that was tied to the Univeristy in ways no one but an Illini could truly understand. The Chief was never a mascot, he was always a proud symbol that was a part of the great tradition of Orange and Blue.

I hope that they do decide to give the rights to Chief Illiniwek over to the Former Chiefs and let them uphold the legacy and tradition of this proud symbol of the Alma Mater that I love.

 

[tevagirl]

Scrappy, I haven't the foggiest idea what you are talking about but I'm very, very sorry.

 

[ZuZugal]

Why are the giving the big chief the hatchet......so to speak?

I did not go to school there but was in Urbana at the Performing school of Arts about 2 weeks ago for a program. Toured the campus in the cold weather, etc.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

aren't all the major colleges getting rid of names and symbols that refer to native americans?

 

[illini]

I-N-I things will never be the same!

 

[DenMig]

Well said lovetoscrap. I am also an alum who bleeds orange and blue and a season ticket holder. Granted I"m not a native american, but I felt it was a dignified display and I will miss the halftime dance. It has been a very, very rough week to be an Illini fan, but whatever doesn't kill us can only make us stronger !!!!! Oskee wow wow.

by the way, no offense, but I misread your name at first and thought you were loves to crap........my bad, unrelated to my U of I education. http://www.wdwinfo.com/images/smilies/rolleye11.gif

 

[MushyMushy]

I saw a documentary on this in a multicultural education class and I ended up seeing both sides of things. As a European American, I felt they were using the mascot in a dignified and appropriate manner. But as a non-Native American, who am I to say whether or not the offense is valid?

My school district has an indian as a mascot. It's been that way for as far back as the school has been around. Nobody has complained yet, but I can imagine the uproar if it ever happens.

Anyway, the point is, I guess I can just see both sides of it.

 

[bananiem]

Well, as a Hawkeye I hate to say it but....I'll miss Illiniwek too. I always enjoyed him. As a member of the Hawkeye Marching Band in the early to mid 80's I was told by someone that his dance and outfit were "official". Either someone was pulling my leg or this is the true meaning of the phrase "Indian giver."

 

[Tinks]

I still cant' believe it. And frankly, I don't understand it. If they are removing the "mascots", they should remove the name too.

Either way it's so disappointing.

 

[Cool-Beans]

The Cleveland Indians have Chief Wahoo. A group of folks got together and decided he should be banned. They even went out in front of the ballpark and carried signs.

The rest of the city said, "Oh, poop. We like Chief Wahoo." The native americans said, "We like Chief Wahoo, too, and don't feel offended." And that was that.

Like Mickey Mouse, Chief Wahoo has undergone changes over the years, but here he is, in his current version, in all his glory.

Team Logo Cap Insignia

Taking offense where none is intended is bad enough. But deciding for others that they should be offended and if they aren't, you'll be offended for them, is outrageous.