Anti-"Chief" Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, November 14th, 2005
NCAA Rejects University
of Illinois’ Mascot Appeal, Keeps School
on List of Banned Mascots
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 their rejection of U
of I’s attempt to get “Chief Illiniwek” taken off
of the banned mascots list. On Friday, November 11th, the NCAA reaffirmed
the inappropriate and outdated nature of race-based mascots like the
“Chief” when they announced their decision regarding the
University of Illinois.
In a statement issued by Senior Vice President for Governance
and Membership, Bernard Franklin, wrote, "The NCAA staff review
committee has retained the University of Illinois, Champaign on the
list of colleges and universities subject to restrictions on the use
of Native American mascots, names and imagery at NCAA championships.
In its review of the particular circumstances regarding Illinois, the
NCAA staff review committee found no new information relative to the
mascot, known as ‘Chief Illiniwek’ or the logo mark used
by some athletics teams that depicts a Native American in feathered
headdress, to remove the university from the list.” Several other
universities placed on this list have also lost their appeals, including
the University of North Dakota and Bradley University.
However, the NCAA did decide that the University of Illinois
may continue to use the term “Fighting Illini” because they
feel it is “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.
Despite that, the NCAA rejection of the University of
Illinois’ appeal is a victory for the anti-“Chief”
movement and all movements fighting for the elimination of race-based
mascots. This decision reaffirms the statements of countless student
and community organizations, university departments, and Native American
organizations that have spoken out against “Chief Illiniwek”
and other race-based mascots.
Upon hearing the results of the appeal, Jen Tayabji, co-coordinator
of the PRC, commented, “We are pleased with the NCAA’s decision
regarding Illinois’ appeal. We applaud them for standing up against
mascots like ‘Chief Illiniwek.’ But we also hope they will
re-evaluate the appropriateness of U of I’s use of the term ‘Fighting
Illini.’ Most importantly, we call on the U of I Board of Trustees
to take heed of this decision and stop using meaningless resolutions
to stall the inevitable end for the ‘Chief’--eliminate ‘Chief
Illiniwek’ in its entirety immediately.”
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