It's Been Awhile

14 years ago Franz Lidz wrote in Sports Illustrated that the chief "has nothing to do with football and everything to do with what's sacred to the Native American heritage."

7 years ago Amnesty International noted "while the First Amendment gives UIUC the right to use these symbols in a way that dishonors and debases them, it is shameful and wrong for UIUC to exercise this right in this way."

7 years ago Jeff Pealman wrote in Sports Illustrated that the chief "was supposed to recall an Indian ritual. It failed miserably..."

7 years ago the LAS Dept of Anthropology declared "the Chief has become a focus of division and escalating tension within the campus community and is a source of shame and embarrassment for many students and faculty."

7 years ago the UI Faculty Senate called for the chief's retirement, stating "The use of a Native Indian as the symbol and mascot of UIUC is in violation of equal opportunity in so far as Chief Illiniwek is a denigrating symbol which discriminates against Native Americans ... it is unconscionable for this institution to stereotype an ethnic group and thereby deny that group the right to define themselves."

5 years ago former Senator Paul Simon was quoted saying "sooner or later the University of Illinois will join other schools in abandoning this symbol, and the sooner the better."

5 years ago the nationally-recognized Southern Poverty Law Center said "The consistent use of racial caricatures violates both Title II and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964," and last year called again for retirement of the chief, stating "College students across the country are the targets of bias-driven slurs and physical assaults. The University of Illinois shouldn't contribute to the problem by officially sponsoring a racist symbol."

5 years ago the Grad School of Library and Information Science concluded "[the chief's] time has passed. The University should lead the way in demonstrating that it is an institution that serves all the citizens of the State of Illinois."

5 years ago the Spanish, Italian and Portuguese Dept wrote the Board of Trustees that the chief "debases this academic discussion, turning a serious issue of cultural contact into a caricature."

5 years ago the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma (descendants of Illini) wrote that "the image portrayed by Chief Illiniwek does not accurately represent or honor the heritage of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma and is a degrading racial stereotype that reflects negatively on all American Indian people."

5 years ago the NCA accreditation team first raised concern over the chief, saying the UI's handling of the chief issue "seems inconsistent with its own statements on promoting diversity and eliminating discrimination."

5 years ago the Linguistic Society of America called for UIUC "to replace 'Chief Illiniwek' with a symbol that does not promote inaccurate, anachronistic, and damaging stereotypes of Native American people.

4 years ago the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights called for "an end to the use of Native American images and team names by non-Native schools.... the elimination of stereotypes will make room for education about real Indian people, current Native American issues, and the rich variety of American Indians in our country."

4 years ago Roger Ebert was quoted as saying "I must listen again at what Native Americans are saying, and they are saying they feel wounded and dismayed by this depiction of their culture."

4 years ago UI alum Frederick Klein wrote in the Wall Street Journal that "The Chief's fate shouldn't be decided by a vote ... sports are supposed to be fun, and neither they nor the ceremonies that surround them should cause distress. The university should rise above the Chief's supporters and detractors and ease him into retirement."

4 years ago the Chronicle of Higher Education called the push to retire the chief "the latest step in one of the country's most heated mascot controversies."

4 years ago a potential UI faculty candidate withdrew her application, noting the "denigrating, stereotypical portrayal of a native religious leader."

3 years ago, trustee member Roger Plummer assessed the Chief controversy after the UI Dialogue on the chief, and concluded "It may seem to be stating the obvious but, after conducting this process, I have concluded that the Board of Trustees has but two alternatives - retain the Chief or retire him."

2 years ago, at the NCAA Convention in Anaheim, CA, a NCAA committee member said that "the use of American Indian mascots must be of concern to the NCAA ... based on the feedback we received from American Indians, the committee believes good intentions to honor American Indians do not always end in good results."

15 months ago, a News-Gazette community poll on the Chief found that 63% of over 23,000 votes cast called for the Board of Trustees to retire the Chief.

14 months ago, the New York Times stated "The people who want to retire the mascot note that virtually every major American Indian organization has long called for the elimination of sports-based Indian references, as has nearly every civil rights and national church organization."

13 months ago the Native American Bar Association declared "Our primary concern with the use [of] Native American mascots is that they bring dishonor to Native Americans by creating stereotypes that are not only completely inaccurate but undermine the dignity of Native people ... we are dumbfounded that any educational body would not only allow such inaccuracies, but perpetuate them."

1 year ago the UI Faculty Senate again called for retirement of the Chief, saying "The continued controversy ... inspires divisiveness and personal attacks that diminish the effectiveness of the president and the chancellor."

11 months ago, the faculty/community organization ActNow wrote the Board, stating "As trustees, you are charged with protecting the best interests of the University and enhancing its reputation. One of the most important ways you can do so is to retire The Chief and put into place a process for identifying a campus symbol that unites our students, alumni, faculty, and community members."

Also 11 months ago, a large anti-Chief rally was held on the UIUC quad.

11 months ago, the Board of Trustees cancelled a planned BOT meeting, at which Student Trustee Nate Allen had promised to call for a vote on the Chief.

10 months ago, the UIUC Black Faculty and Academic Professionals Alliance declared "As people of color, we view Chief Illiniwek as a racist symbol that divides the university and the local community at a time when both are striving to become more diverse."

8 months ago the Board of Trustees adopted a consensus conclusion, and resolved to "next consider and approve guidelines pursuant to which a consensus conclusion will be based."

6 months ago the North Central Association Report of a Focused Visit (Commission Mandate) said in part: "consensus resolution of the issue must have positive impact upon the University of Illinois' educational programs and public presence locally and nationally," while noting that "the rate and amount of damage to the institution will continue to accelerate if the issue is not addressed decisively and soon."

The Chicago Sun-Times, quoting from the NCA report, concluded "The Chief's gig is up. We're just waiting for Illinois to realize it."

5 months ago, the Board adopted a "Policy on American Indian Heritage" (news).

3 months ago, the Board of Trustees met. The chief was not on their agenda.

1 month ago, the Board of Trustees met. The chief was not on their agenda.

"The list of institutions which have dealt successfully with similar issues is long ... the list of those institutions still attempting to defer or avoid the obvious solution is very short." - NCA report

Remember?      March 15, 2004      Native Americans protest at the University of Illinois

Ten Reasons to Retire The Chief

1. Diversity. We do want a diverse, inclusive atmosphere welcoming of all cultures. 2. Stereotypes. The Chief perpetuates harmful, insulting stereotypes of Native people in a big way. 3. Publicity. The presence of the Chief has brought national disapproval to an outstanding University. 4. Racism. It was not the intention, and no one likes the "R" word, but Native Americans are very upset by the presence of Chief Illiniwek. 5. Children. Powerful stereotypes are particularly harmful to children - their self esteem and school performance.

6. Accuracy. Let's be honest - the Chief isn't the real thing. The dance is part of half-time entertainment. 7. Honor. Native Americans are not honored. Quite the contrary, they have made it clear they are offended by the Chief. 8. NCAA. In case you missed it, the NCAA has made it clear they are unhappy with American Indian mascots. 9. Choices. Potential faculty and students have chosen not to teach or attend the University because of the Chief. 10. Image. Call the Chief a symbol or a mascot - he is a public figure that harms the University's image.