One year ago a tradition at University of Illinois came to an end, but the controversy still lives on.

In February 2007, Chief Illiniwek, the Illinois mascot, performed for the final time during halftime of a 12-point win over Michigan.

‘From time to time, there is still some debate on the topic of Chief Illiniwek,’ said Tom Hardy, executive director of university relations at Illinois. ‘He was an 80-year tradition that is dearly beloved by many, while there are some that are glad to see that the tradition has been seized.’

In 2005, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) forbid the use of all American Indian mascots during the postseason, and schools that refused to comply would be stripped of the chance to host tournament games, according to USA Today.

‘We were not expecting the postseason hosting ban from the NCAA,’ said Dan Maloney, the last student to perform as Chief Illiniwek. ‘The big thing to note, however, is that the minute the NCAA started making exceptions to their ‘hostile and abusive’ list, the list became null and void.’

The ban, however, was not the biggest issue for some. That came when the chairman of the university’s Board of Trustees, Lawrence Eppley, went along with the NCAA decision and removed Chief Illiniwek from representing the university. The move went against the wishes of many students and alumni, and the reaction was one of anger and frustration.

Paul Schmitt, the former president of the Students for Chief Illiniwek, explained the reestablishment of the group came once students sensed the campus was coming very close to some action relating to the chief.

‘A small coalition of unrelated students joined together to re-form the group, launching it into one of the university’s largest and most effective student organizations,’ Schmitt said. ‘When the NCAA restrictions were initially enforced, the campus was only further divided over the issue as it was bringing negative press to the university.’

According to the Illinois Official Athletic Web site, Illiniwek was the name of the confederation of Algonquin tribes that lived in the region. The French changed the ‘wek’ to ‘ois’, which is where the state’s name comes from.

There are those who believe the NCAA’s decision is legitimate.

‘The NCAA legislation provides the opportunity to increase awareness and sensitivity to the negative impact of hostile or abusive symbols, names and imagery,’ said Robert Edson, senior associate director of athletics at Syracuse.

‘Like many other changes in history, the former mascots and symbols will not be forgotten, but rather will provide context to how we have progressed to where we are today and how far we have come as a society,’ he said.

Since 1926, Chief Illiniwek has performed his four-minute tribal dance during halftime of Fighting Illini home games, including those of men’s and women’s basketball, men’s football and volleyball.

‘I personally was sad with the chief’s removal,’ said Megan Meyer, a sophomore at Illinois. ‘I am a part of the Marching Illini, and he was a huge part of our performance and what we do.’

Schmitt said the chief has become more than just a mascot to the campus and the community.

‘Chief Illiniwek has taught me about the value of standing up for what is good and right despite overwhelming forces against you,’ said Schmitt, after time as president of Students for Chief Illiniwek. ‘I have learned so much about campus politics, the pursuit of politically correct speech in academia and the great chasm in values between society and academia.’

Maloney, from Illinois, grew up with the chief

‘It’s funny. When you’re three or four, you want to be a professional basketball player or maybe even Rambo,’ he said. ‘I wanted to be Chief Illiniwek. When I was chosen to portray the chief, it was a dream come true.’

This issue of whether schools should be allowed to use American Indian nicknames was deliberated in 1995 when the U.S. Department of Education ruled that Chief Illiniwek was not in violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, according to The New York Times.

There is a referendum question on the electronic ballot for student elections currently taking place on campus, which will access student body support for the reinstatement of Chief Illiniwek, according to the Daily Illini, the school’s newspaper.

‘We cannot stop students from putting a referendum on the ballot, but it is virtually certain that the outcome is not going to affect Chief Illiniwek’s reinstatement,’ Hardy said. ‘In all likelihood, Chief Illiniwek will not return, but will recede into the university’s history.’

Schmitt has a more optimistic outlook.

‘I believe there will always be the possibility of a return for Chief Illiniwek,’ Schmitt said.

‘He was an ambassador of good will for the university, a member of the local community, a steward of charitable and good works and an inspiration to the hearts and minds of hundreds of thousands.’

rseldrid@syr.edu

Published on February 27, 2008 at 12:00 pm