| Sunday, February 18, 2007 |
| Chief Illiniwek OUT, Fascism IN |
The war is over for Illini fans. OVER.
The Chief is officially going to be retired. Just like so many people have been asked to "retire" from companies because of all of their great service, right? Yeah..uh huh.
For years, there has been the back and forth battle of whether the Chief should be a symbol of the University of Illinois. Supporters of Chief Illiniwek have contended that it was a proud icon of history that every one could use as the pride and love for their University. However, anti-Chief sentiments have claimed that the Chief has been a racist symbol of degradation of the Native Americans and being a mascot was completely against all civil rights of the culture. There have been so many cries out, so much anger, so much mud slinging back and forth, I could write and write and write for days about every move each side has made. The level that things sunk to were so appalling (including one professor that WORKED for the university sending propoganda to potential recruits telling them NOT to come to Illinois) that most kids that fight on a playground wouldn't dare lay claim to such antics.
Lo and behold, it's over. After the NCAA told the U of I that they would not be able to host any post season games as long as the Chief still did his ceremonial dance at half time of sporting events, the Illini appealed and fought the decision to no avail. So, this week, they announced that after the last men's basketball home scheduled game, the Chief would be forever a memory.
Here is what the problem is... Is the Illini the only potential team out there that is "offending"? Of course not. When the NCAA handed down its decision, there were 18 other schools that were named alongside the Illini that were "banned" from hosting post season events.
But the real issue is that instead of issuing a reprimand and standing up with a final decision, the NCAA took a cowardly way of taking away future windfall dollars in a "phantom ransom" to force Illinois to make a final stand. Instead of giving the University, which is already under heavy jurisdiction and policy, the proper due in terms of institutional control, the NCAA has to weigh in their "ideology" and play this game with these schools--it's downright shameful.
But, again, even so, besides those 18 other schools, there are STILL other potentially infringing teams out there. Florida State, for example, has a Seminole Indian riding a horse into the middle of the field and throw a flaming arrow into the ground, and stays on the sidelines the entire game. They, however, have not been mandated by anyone to change anything. In fact, the Seminole tribe has endorsed what FSU does. On the other hand, the Illini never have the Chief travel, and the only time that he is "seen" is at half, when the same ceremonial dance is performed, and then he exits. This ceremonial dance is taught to whomever portrays the Chief by descendants of the Illini tribe--we're talking actual Native Americans here.
Yet--here we are. How does this make sense?
I don't necessarily disagree that their may be those offended; however, why in the world isn't EVERY SINGLE TEAM being dealt with? Why is there a professional football team named the "Redskins" that has been operating for almost 100 years?
Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. What the NCAA has done is nothing short of fascism, and I have lost an icon that I have rooted on for over 30 years. Am I Native American? No. Do I have even a smidgeon of understanding what their culture has endured for centuries? No. Do I love Chief Illiniwek for the pride that it gives me in supporting my favorite team? Yes.
Why then, do hundreds of thousands of Illini fans who love and respect the Chief, despite these issues named above, have to suffer?
Isn't this the same type of treatment and indignity the anti-Chief ideologists and NCAA claim the Chief has represented all along?
Forgive me for my passion if I offended, but give me your thoughts on this.
Goosey
 Labels: bans on teams, basketball, Chief, Chief Illiniwek, college controversy, football, Illini, Illinois, Native American culture, NCAA, sports, University of Illinois |
posted by Tim @ 7:22 PM   |
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| 5 Comments: |
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Hey Tim--
Thanks for the comment. I can certainly see where you're coming from with all of this, and, as an alumnus, you're definitely more rooted in the tradition of the Chief than I am. Obviously, I don't approve of what the NCAA has done, and the selective and biased enforcement of what is definitely widespread racism is very frustrating. All else being equal, I'd rather we kept the Chief. But I'm sure you'll agree with me in saying that we've exhausted all possible avenues in terms of countering the NCAA, and ultimately, the welfare of the University means more to us than protecting the Chief--and keeping the Chief would harm the University's ability to grow as an institution.
I don't think that anyone in the UI student/alumni community really feels offended by the Chief, and that means for us, Wednesday going to be a very sad day, but it had to happen sooner or later.
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Thanks for your thoughts, Wes. Yes, the inevitable was upon us--I don't think anyone was truly confident that there would "never" be an end, but with the cowardice the NCAA has shown during this, it's ironic that the headquarters are in a state that is in fact named after Indians (Indiana). I will miss the Chief dearly!
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Oh let's not forget the land o lakes butter girl, the redman tabacco logo. AHHH heck I am going to start complaining about the statue of liberty. I mean it's offensive to any plus sized woman over 6' who wears an evening gown and carries a torch.
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Hi goosey! I second what wes said here. Everyone I know at U of I thinks that the Chief is some kind of recognition, definitely not offensive. I still think NCAA has overdone in this issue. Right now I just hope we can keep our Fighting Illini nickname. Same people complained the name was annoying too. Go Illini!
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Illini-thanks for your comments again. Shoot me an email with your blog site and I'll check it out. Take care!
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Hey Tim--
Thanks for the comment. I can certainly see where you're coming from with all of this, and, as an alumnus, you're definitely more rooted in the tradition of the Chief than I am. Obviously, I don't approve of what the NCAA has done, and the selective and biased enforcement of what is definitely widespread racism is very frustrating. All else being equal, I'd rather we kept the Chief. But I'm sure you'll agree with me in saying that we've exhausted all possible avenues in terms of countering the NCAA, and ultimately, the welfare of the University means more to us than protecting the Chief--and keeping the Chief would harm the University's ability to grow as an institution.
I don't think that anyone in the UI student/alumni community really feels offended by the Chief, and that means for us, Wednesday going to be a very sad day, but it had to happen sooner or later.