Friday, March 31st, 2006

Anti-“Chief” Group Responds to Recent Developments Regarding “Chief Illiniwek”

 

The Progressive Resource/Action Cooperative (PRC), who has been fighting for the elimination of “Chief Illiniwek” since 1989, commends the National Collegiate Athletic Association on following through on examining the use of race based mascots, specifically how it applies to the University of Illinois and “Chief Illiniwek.” On March 7th, the NCAA Staff Committee issued a response to the four points laid out in U of I’s appeal. On March 28th, Board Chairman Eppley, on behalf of the University, submitted a rebuttal statement for the April 28th appeal hearing, when the final decision will be made.

One of the points the University challenged the NCAA on is the use of the terms “Illini” and “Fighting Illini.” The University of Illinois feels the terms are “closely related to the name of the state and not directly associated with Native Americans.” In a guest commentary featured in The News-Gazette, UI History Professors Hoxie and Roediger wrote, “Soon after the student newspaper changed its name to the ‘Illini’ in 1874, university clubs arose named ‘Sachem’ and ‘Ma-wan-da’ and their members held ceremonies in which white students wrapped themselves in blankets and smoked ‘peace pipes.’ Early 20th-century athletic teams were often referred to as ‘Indians,’ and in 1914 an association of athletes was created called ‘The Tribe of the Illini’.” Although the term “Illini” was first used to refer to the university’s newspaper in 1874, it was quickly used in context with “Indians,” “Illini tribesmen,” “braves,” “warriors” and other terms that connected U of I’s athletics to a fascination with American Indians. This connection was well established before the campaign to build Memorial Stadium and by the time “Chief Illiniwek” was created in 1926 (source: The Illio). Historical evidence makes it quite clear that the use of the term “Fighting Illini” is not and cannot be separated from the use of the “Chief” or from American Indian references in general. Although the NCAA has tentatively allowed U of I to continue using “Illini” and “Fighting Illini” during NCAA tournaments, the PRC calls on the NCAA to overturn this decision during the April 28th appeal hearing due to this historical evidence.

The next point U of I contends is that the tradition of the “Chief” is not intended nor does it actually create a “hostile” and “abusive” environment. Although the intentions surrounding the “Chief Illiniwek” tradition may not intend to be hostile, it is clear that it does indeed create a “hostile” and “abusive” environment. In the Focused Visit Report issued by the North Collegiate Association, the agency which accredits the University, they wrote, “In summary, the institution’s symbol is an embarrassment to many of its most distinguished constituents. It creates a situation in which expressions of opinion by students, faculty, leadership, or applicants for positions at the institution may be stifled or lead to harassment. It creates a situation where some faculty and staff do not want to attend national meetings, especially meetings dealing with diversity issues, because of the “hypocrisy they sense in the institution’s continued use of the symbol. It creates a situation which can cause peers and colleagues across the country to decide against applying for positions on the UI campus or participation in events held there. It appears likely to diminish the pool of candidates for the institution’s highest positions and could interfere with the selection process to fill those positions.”

Next, the U of I raises the concern over the institutional autonomy of member organizations. In the Staff Committee’s Response, the NCAA wrote, “As was noted when the August 2005 policy was announced, the Executive Committee is not interfering with member institutions’ right to determine what their nickname, mascots or imagery will be. Institutional autonomy continues to be a valued principle. The Executive Committee’s policy applies only to the context of NCAA championships.” The University also challenges whether or not the issue of Native American mascots is a “’core issue,” and instead labels it as “sociological or political issues.” Fundamentally, the issue of mascots like “Chief Illiniwek” is race and racism, inclusion, and diversity. It is institutions like the University of Illinois who have ignored these problems that have made the situation into a “political issue.”

Finally, the University cites the NCAA for their “flawed process” in dealing with race-based mascots. In the University’s appeal, they laid out these concerns and the NCAA appropriately and clearly addressed their concerns in the Staff Committee’s Response dated March 7th, 2006. Of interest to the PRC is Chairman Eppley’s mention of the PRC’s submittal of information to the NCAA during the review process. It is true that the PRC sent several packets of information to the NCAA administrators to provide a supplementary resource about “Chief Illiniwek.” All of the documents have been previously presented to the University Board and Administration over the past seventeen years, often falling on deaf ears. The PRC would be more than willing to provide the documents to Chairman Eppley, but it is unnecessary as this information is also easily accessible on various websites.

In 2001, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights issued a report on the use of Native American sport symbols and very poignantly wrote, “The stereotyping of any racial, ethnic, religious or other groups when promoted by our public educational institutions, teach all students that stereotyping of minority groups is acceptable, a dangerous lesson in a diverse society. Schools have a responsibility to educate their students; they should not use their influence to perpetuate misrepresentations of any culture or people.” The Progressive Resource/Action Cooperative implores the University Board of Trustees, specifically Chairman Eppley, to heed the vast collection of resources calling for the end of the use of race-based mascots and eliminate “Chief Illiniwek” today in it’s entirety—name, dance, and logo.

 

Download PRC's Press Release (pdf)

Download U of I's Rebuttal Statement (pdf)

Download NCAA's Staff Committee Response (pdf)

See The News-Gazette Story from March 30, 2006