Oskee-Wow_No_More

Oskee-Wow-No More Illinois has a very good tradition of higher education which is displayed by having a large number of colleges from which to choose within the state. Quite possibly the school in Illinois that is most respected and revered is the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Its 38,000 student enrollment reflects that many people want to graduate from that fine establishment (Selingo). While the University of Illinois is regarded as a great academic place, it is also recognized for its athletic prowess. With its recent successes in big time sports like men’s basketball (making it to the final four in 2004) and men’s football (making it to the Rose Bowl in 2007), U of I has become a national powerhouse. Equally recognizable as its orange and blue colors, is the U of I’s unique “mascot,” Chief Illiniwek, a Native American chief of a local tribe. Some people have argued recently that the chief is a terrible mascot which consequently led to his removal in the last year. Chief Illiniwek is a highly respected symbol that needs to be reinstated in order to promote the greatest possible amount of school spirit. The main reason for the chief’s removal from the school is disapproval from Native Americans. It is impossible to ignore the fact that the Native Americans, who the school is trying to honor, are the mascot’s biggest opponents (Morrissey). It is easy to claim that they own the only opinions that truly matter. The chief’s attire and dance have been called offensively over the top and perverting a people’s religion (Trice). Rick Morrissey inputs, “It's worth noting that the students who have played the role of the Chief over the years have been about as Native American as the people who came over on the Mayflower.” This does not make it any easier for Native Americans to be able to accept the mascot. Recently, the Oglala Sioux Tribal Executive Committee asked Illinois to return the attire it supplied them in 1982 (Mehlmer). They also requested that Illinois cease the practice of Chief Illiniwek’s halftime dances. When the NCAA intervened in 2005, banning universities with offensive mascots from hosting postseason tournaments, the University of Illinois had to reconsider the appropriateness of their mascot (Trice). Sadly, the chief performed his last halftime dance at a home basketball contest on February 21, 2007 (Cohen, “Chief”). Chief Illiniwek is a long tradition that has been thoroughly supported over the years by students and alumni alike. The tradition began on October 30, 1926 when he made his first appearance at a home football game (Cohen, “Cohen”). Ever since that first performance, students and fans have found a deep rooted passion for the chief. Judy Cain who grew up in Champaign and had gone to Illinois games for 66 years said, “It’s unbelievable it won’t be here anymore (Cohen, “Chief”).” At the chief’s last dance, he performed in front of a sell-out crowd of over 16,000 students, fans, and alumni (Cohen, “Chief”). The mere fact that it was a sell out does not do the event justice. Students camped out and skipped exams to have the opportunity to witness the last dance (Cohen, Chief”). As a protest and a sign of mourning, the crowd turned their traditional orange t-shirts over to black ones to signify their disapproval of the school’s abandonment of their icon. The student portraying the chief with that last dance, Dan Maloney, told Cohen, “I might feel the weight of 80 years on my shoulders (Cohen, “Chief”).” Given the emotion displayed on the last dance of the chief, it is very evident that Chief Illiniwek is more than just a mascot. His role lies deep within the university, which is more than other schools can say about their mascots. Chief supporters deem him to be a symbol of the university, calling those who use the term “mascot” anti-chief (Cohen, “Illiniwek”). In contrast, a 2000 report by the U of I Board of Trustees decided it would not label the chief one or the other (Cohen, “Illiniwek”). Erin McKeane of Verbatim magazine says, “A symbol is certainly a more dignified word.” This is fitting because Chief Illiniwek is more dignified than any other mascot. Mascots are paired with cheerleaders and spend entire games on the sideline pumping up fans as the game goes on. The chief comes out once per game at halftime and performs a riveting display of camaraderie. The Orange Krush student cheering section join arms and show their respect for the tradition and symbol. Even now, when the chief is no longer allowed to dance, the Orange Krush still join arms and sway with the music that is played during halftime. A group of former chief portrayers who are lobbying for a return of the chief declare, “In some form and in some place, Chief Illiniwek will live on (Cohen, “Illiniwek”).” A symbol of a university should invoke a sense of pride and a feeling of toughness and that is exactly what Chief Illiniwek does. Schools name their mascots after things they appreciate or respect, which justifies the notion of a Native American mascot (“Native American Sports Mascots”). Even when people are not on a particular team, they still distinguish themselves as their school mascot. Typically, Native American mascots are labeled for area tribes (“Native”). This is the case with the University of Illinois whose students are called the Fighting Illini after a tribe that once occupied central Illinois. Chief Illiniwek evokes a feeling fans like to see in their athletes (“Native”). Along with the chief, other Native American mascots convey a sense of resourcefulness, courage, and determination (“Native). Native Americans seem to be the perfect mascot in that sense, which makes Chief Illiniwek a great mascot. While it is understandable how Native Americans could believe Chief Illiniwek is offensive, it is in no way the intention of the university to display their heritage in a negative way. The University of Illinois has been allowed to retain its name of the Fighting Illini, but has been forced to stop Chief Illiniwek’s halftime dances. This is unacceptable because the Illini have been stripped of their symbol to represent the school. Any student will testify that home football games are not the same and basketball halftime shows lack a certain excitement that was formerly supplied by the chief’s dance. If a routine was not racist eighty years ago, how can it all of a sudden become offensive in our generation' It is sad that those who find the chief offensive are unable to find the good in this symbol. Works Cited Cohen, Jodi S. "Chief Illiniwek Officially Out, But Dance May Not Be Over" Chicago Tribune14 Mar. 2007,2C.2. Chicago Tribune. ProQuest. Benner Lib. Olivet Nazarene U. 11 Nov. 2008 Cohen, Jodi S. "Illiniwek: Symbol or mascot." Chicago Tribune 28 Jan. 2007,2.1. Chicago Tribune. ProQuest. Benner Lib., Olivet Nazarene U. 11 Nov. 2008 Melmer, David. “Chief Illiniwek Mascot Creates Cheers and Jeers.” Indian Country Today 2 February 2007. Searchasaurus. EBSCO. Benner Lib., Olivet Nazarene U. 11 November 2008 "Native American Sports Mascots." Issues & Controversies On File 12 Apr. 2002. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services. Benner Lib., Olivet Nazarene U. 11 Nov. 2008 Selingo, Jeffrey. "An Honored Symbol to Some, a Racist Mascot to Others." The Chronicle of Higher Education. 50.41 (June 18 2004): A20-A21, A23. WilsonSelectPlus. Benner Lib., Olivet Nazarene U. 11 November 2008. Trice, Dawn Turner "Let Us Bury Chief Illiniwek, Not Praise Him" Chicago Tribune 19 Feb. 2007,2C.1. Chicago Tribune. ProQuest. Benner Lib., Olivet Nazarene U. 11 Nov. 2008