February
16
2007
What’s next for UIUC?
1:14 pm —
Will there be a rush on Chief merchandise? Will there be protests and counter-protests? What will replace the Chief?
If you’ve heard anything about developments regarding the aftermath of this controversey, post your thoughts.
Anonymous posting is allowed…
February 16th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
It will be curious to see if the oft-raised fear of a decrease in alumni donations results from this decision.
February 16th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
I know I rushed to purchase Chief merchandise, and rightfully so. TIS was full of people buying Chief items as fast as they could, many on cell phones w/ loved ones asking for sizes etc.
It’s so unfortunate, and yes…there will be protests. If you look at Facebook, many students are already replacing their pictures with that of the Chief. I can only assume there will be a rally in the coming days. LOVE how they do it on Friday, as if this is somehow going to all go away over the weekend…and it isn’t.
February 16th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
The time is ripe for the student body and the many alumni who have walked through our hallowed halls and corridors to honor and embrace a new symbol and figure that best exemplifies our long and successful tradition as a school of the agricultural and engineering arts. The time is ripe for Farm Bot.
There are many things that Farm Bot stands for. For one thing, it stands for “F***ing Awesome Robot Mascot.” What other university’s non-mechanized mascot would stand up to the awesome might of our gigantic metal hero? What other figure could we rally around at halftime to literally crush our foes on the gridiron and on the basketball court? What other symbol shoots corn out of his arm cannon and bottle rockets out of his stovepipe hat, resembling Illinois’ most honorable statesman and uniter, Abe Lincoln? I ask you, and yet none shall reply.
We have a chance to do something courageous, and that is to let our former Chief go with the dignity that he was not afforded at his conception. Instead of a mockery paraded around in the name of tradition, honor, and bravery, let us rally around a true representitive of our university, a true representitive of our mission as a place of higher education: to dominate on the playing field, dominate in the classroom, and dominate our great country and the world.
Let us all unite amid Farm Bot’s cries of “Let’s Cornhole ‘Em!”
February 16th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Matt,
As a call to the Development (that is, fund-raising) Office will tell you, the vast majority of people who threaten to withhold donations never donated in the first place. And anyone who would truly end donations over Chief Illiniwek probably was donating to athletics, not regular-student financial aid, faculty endowed chairs, or academic programs and buildings.
February 16th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
All I know is, I’m going to be the most hostile and abusive thing on this campus to the first protester that gets on face on either side. Where’s the sticker that says “I Don’t Care About the Chief, I Came to U of I to Learn”?
February 16th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
I went out and got my Chief gear. Dropped a ton and none of it at the bookstore. I realize the University will be profitting off the license, but at least I got to withhold the last few bucks by shopping elsewhere.
February 16th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
As an alum I am deeply saddened by the decision to eliminate the Chief, but as a supporter of the university I am happy since Senator Jones and the legislature will now fund the University programs and its research at the 100% level. We should even be able to call off the big campaign that kicks off in June. After all Senator Jones has said that he would withhold funds as long as the Chief was around and now the Chief is gone. So to Senator Jones the Illini Nation says open the check book and start funding this University at its complete level. Just think of the money all of us alums will save because the need to donate will be no more.
February 16th, 2007 at 10:45 pm
Truth be known, I don’t care what happens next with UIUC.
I just mailed my Alumni Association card back this afternoon, after contacting my college and telling them to take me off their mailing list. And yes, I’m a contributor - no, make that a FORMER contributor. I’ll scrape the window stickers off of the car tomorrow.
For the past 30+ years, whenever someone asks, “Where did you go to college?” I would proudly answer, ‘The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.’
I’ll still tell people where my degree is from, but the pride I felt is gone. All because the sorry-ass weenies on the Board of Trustees refused to stand up to a strident minority.
I will offer one last thought to my alma mater. If you’re looking for a school mascot in the future, there are LOTS of spineless invertebrates for the Board to choose from.
February 17th, 2007 at 1:28 am
As a minority (not a Native American, but a minority nonetheless), I did not feel any ill will towards the figure of Chief Illiniwek. My issue is with the paid attendees at events who hoot and holler things they believe is Native American during the Three-in-One. I have been to many football and mens basketball games on this campus, and I get so disgusted every time the majority of the crowd does the “pow wow” chant during that part of the performance.
I am not a Native American expert and do not know how that group feels about a person dancing around in their regalia. However, if Native Americans feels they are being disrespected because a person and/or people are mocking their history and traditions, then the University did the proper and honorable thing by eliminating the Chief.
In my opinion, its the audience who mocked Native Americans and the University should take away the Chief for that reason. The root of the problem is at its source. Eliminating the source eliminates the problem.
February 17th, 2007 at 6:08 am
I am a disgusted alum who never really had any great attachment to the Chief, but who has always disdained the University’s pathetic appeasement of the professional do-nothing radicals who hide out in the University because it is the only place where they can be unproductive and useless to society and still get paid for it, through taxpayer funded salaries, fellowships and scholarships.
The B.O.T. has just given these people another victory, which will embolden them to further mindless agitation on whatever the next “issue of the day” might be.
At the very least, we need to make the Chief the most popular “unofficial” mascot in history. Next year and for years to come, how about if we have an alumni hall full of Chiefs in full dress? They might not let the Chiefs on the court at halftime, but who cares?
February 17th, 2007 at 11:55 am
Brian wrote: “Next year and for years to come, how about if we have an alumni hall full of Chiefs in full dress?”
Yeah! Great idea, Brian! And across the hall we can have a bunch of alums dressed up in black face! What a wonderful idea!
It’s because of subtle racism like yours that the University finally and appropriately rid themselves of the Chief. Most chief supporters forget that the University is one of the world’s greatest research institution. Its reputation is international. The Chief, on the other hand, is merely a local issue. It makes no sense to undermine the international reputation of such a great institution by promoting a racist mascot. The Chief is beneath such a great university.
The university is not the Chief. And it’s about time that the U of I reminded locals that the university is, in fact, in charge of itself.
February 17th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Are these all gone too?…Anyone think of this, PC Jerks…
There will still be Illini Spirit…Just never stop singing…………
___________________________________________________
Songs of the Illini
Illinois Loyalty
We’re loyal to you Illinois
We’re “Orange and Blue,” Illinois
We’ll back you to stand
‘Gainst the best in the land
For we know you have sand,
Illinois
Rah! Rah!
So crack out the ball Illinois
We’re backing you all Illinois
Our team is the fame protector;
On boys, for we expect a
Victory from you Illinois
Chehee, Cheha, Cheha-ha-ha
Go Illini Go
Chehee, Cheha, Cheha-ha-ha
Go Illini Go
Illinois, Illinois, Illinois
Fling out that dear old flag of
Orange and Blue
Lead on your sons and daughters,
Fighting for you;
Like men of old, on giants
Placing reliance, shouting defiance
Oskee-wow-wow!
Amid the broad green plains
That nourish our land,
For honest labor and for learning we stand,
And unto thee we pledge our heart and hand,
Dear Alma Mater, Illinois
Oskee-Wow-Wow
Old Princeton yells her tiger
Wisconsin her varsity
And they give the same old Rah!
Rah! Rah!
At each university
But the yell that always thrills me,
And fills my heart with joy,
Is the good old Oskee-wow-wow,
That they yell at Illinois
Chorus
Oskee-wow-wow, Illinois
Our eyes are all on you
Oskee-wow-wow, Illinois
Wave your Orange and Blue, Rah! Rah!
When your team trots out before you
Ev’ry man stand up and yell
Back the team to gain a victory
Oskee-wow-wow, Illinois
February 17th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Threats by alums to withhold their donatations to the Univ. are nothing new. While there may be a drop in some giving initially, it will bounce back within a couple of years. Always has.
When Stanford University and Dartmouth College dropped their Indian mascots, alums fumed just like U of I alums are fuming now. In those institutions, donations from alums are absolutely vital to the bottom line. So their respective decisions to dump their Indian mascots were not made lightly. As predicted, alumni donations fell off for the first few years in both schools. But this dip didn’t last long. Needless to say, neither institution is hurting financially today.
Similarly, the U of I will not be financially affected for very long by this, if at all. Alums can threaten all they want, but fortunately the vast majority of those who do never dontated to the university in the first place. And the truly big donors give to the university for reasons other than the Chief.
February 17th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
So, the Chief can’t dance during games. Big deal. You couldn’t see anything from the cheap seats anyway. Why was he restricted to sports anyway? I’d like to see the Chief dancing on the quad, up close and personal, every Friday at noon. I’d like to see him perform for the incoming freshman and during graduation. Make him a true symbol of the university, not just its sports teams. Let the NCAA have their petty little victory while the Chief dances on!
February 17th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Truly a dark day for the Illini. Not only that it was done but how it was done. I believe and hope that the BOT greatly underestimated the student and alumni support for this revered tradition. I would urge everyone to to speak with the only thing that the BOT holds sacred, money. Stop your $$ support until the BOT resigns and there is more dialog on how this issue can be resolved with dignity. Students and alumni, do not go into the last 2 basketball games until halftime. Cancel your season tickets. Email the gov. to express your disgust with his BODT appointments. Do it now!!
February 17th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Why are so many students obsessed with the Chief? I have better things to do with my time than squabble over a mascot. We can be the Illini Turtles or Orchids for all I care. I came to UIUC to obtain a solid education, not to be bombarded by idiots who have nothing better to do than to profess our supposed “need” for the Chief.
February 18th, 2007 at 2:25 am
Now that the decision regarding the Chief has been issued, let us have something meaningful come from this experience. Somewhere on campus, the university should create a Chief Illiniwek exhibit, including Chief artifacts, and a brief history of the creation of the mascot. Also included in the exhibit, should be a section detailing the controversy surrounding the Chief as well. The Chief, love him or hate him, is a part of the university heritage. Future generations will be able to gain a complete and accurate account of the legacy of Chief Illiniwek. The divisive nature of Chief Illiniwek should be told by the university, in an honest and sincere manner, such as an exhibit.
February 18th, 2007 at 11:18 am
If you came to CU to do nothing but learn, stay in the library and get out of the Chief issue. You clearly are not experiencing all the great things this fine institution has to offer. Get your degree on-line and stay home.
As far as what is next, I would recommend no mascot at all. After 80 years of the Chief being embraced as symbol of spirit, honor, and respect, any new portrayal of the University would be a sham. The student body and alumni will carry the tradition forever. The Chief will be back when more rational and less politically motivated leaders are in charge.
February 18th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Hey Ada,
If you came to the University to LEARN, I think you will be learning very little from the example set by the board this past week. As an alum, and a tuition=paying parent….I have strong feelings when viewing the ‘this is where I learned to live’ commercial. Unfortunatley, the example given this week is NOT one to live by.
I expect the University to stand for DIVERSITY of OPINION. Not to cave weak-kneed when the going gets tough, and CERTAINLY not to capitulate because of financial reasons. Who really CARES if we don’t host an NCAA championship. I suppose the athletes, but many of those would most likely have preferred the trustees stood up for what is right. It is NEVER right to back down from a fight when you are right….values the Chief represents, by the way.
And yes, I am an alum who is not currently donating, but PLANNED to as soon so the tuition bills are no longer coming in. Make the emphasis on PLANNED by the way….obviously the University is not in need of my money…maybe they can get it from the Illini tribe and their so called descendants. My money will go to help in the legal fight for a University that is not afraid to take on the NCAA!
February 19th, 2007 at 1:13 am
I’m glad that this decision was made. It seems to me that a big reason that people are disappointed with retiring the Chief is because of tradition. People want to keep the Chief because he somehow brings a sense of comfort of familiarity to those alumni/students. Illiniwek has always “been there”.
Stop and consider for a second: just because something has been around for a long time, that does not make it inherently right or desirable. Don’t throw around the word “tradition” thinking it is synonymous with “good”. And don’t think that you are “honoring” the Native Americans when the people themselves are saying that this Chief is an insult.
I hope that we can move on with life now.
February 19th, 2007 at 2:00 am
Good riddance!! Now we can just move on without the nonsense.
February 19th, 2007 at 11:01 am
Matt says: “It will be curious to see if the oft-raised fear of a decrease in alumni donations results from this decision.”
Way back around 1997 none other than the News-Gazette, no bastion of anti-Chief sentiment, did a study of schools that had retired their Indian mascots (symbols, whatever you wanna call it) and logos. This included Stanford and Dartmouth, as well as some others I can’t recall.
The conclusion was that alumni donations did NOT fall off, nor did they increase more than the usual slight upward trend with time. I imagine similar will be true of UIUC.
I think having some exhibit about the tradition, if it clearly states where the tradition is from (i.e. people meant well, but it’s a Boy Scout Indian - in itself an extremely American traditional thing - and not actually educational about the people who did live near here), and keep some memorabilia, in a museum context, it could be a good thing.
I’ll be clear, I think the Chief tradition was anachronistic and it was long past time for it to go. That said, though, I don’t think it was dreamed up in a spirit of meanness, either. Indian imagery in the United States has a very long history. I think people realize the “savage” depictions are not okay, but only slowly are they realizing that good caricatures, the whole “honorable warriors who loved nature and are connected to the land” and all that kind of thing, are also not okay. Still, the duality is fascinating.
I do think it’s time to move on and get a real mascot. Having a hole, encouraging people to resent what was taken from them and nurse anger, is not okay.
February 19th, 2007 at 11:14 am
Julia, I don’t think you have an inkling of how important traditions are to our culture.
Look around the Quad. Compare the style of the Foreign Language Building to Altgeld Hall. Altgeld has been preserved and restored because of tradition. FLB was the newest building on campus when I attended the U of I. For my daughter, it was always a part of ‘her’ University, but so was Altgeld.
Why is the University renovating Lincoln Hall instead of bulldozing it to put up a six-story, glass-and-steel building? The extra classroom and office space would be great, but you’d lose part of the University’s heritage - its tradition - if you replaced LH.
When you graduate (if you haven’t already) they will play ‘Pomp & Circumstance’ at the ceremony. Why? Because it has become a commencement ‘tradition.’
When you go home to have Thanksgiving dinner with your family, you’re honoring a tradition.
There is no evidence supporting your broad-brush statement that all Native Americans are insulted by the Chief. And you know what, there are no laws that guarantee you or me or anyone that we will never be offended by something we see or hear. Being offended is NOT the same as being discriminated against.
February 19th, 2007 at 11:34 am
As is the case with most issues in our country, many are trying to over-simplify this issue. The Chief offends many Native Americans, but others don’t mind. There is some tradition involved, but the chief is not what many love about U of I. All in all the chief debate was generating too much negativity. U of I should make national news for Nobel Prizes, groundbreaking research and the excellent scholars produced, not a mascot/symbol or whatever. This decision was a long time coming, if the chief is what any alum think most fondly about when reminiscing, then they had a pitiful expereince in CU and they will not be missed.
February 19th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Why do people feel the need to cling to tradition as if things will be horrible without some grand reminder of the past? Tradition, in and of itself, is not a bad thing… but when it creates a rift in a community, how is that something worthy of clinging to?
Illiniwek was some guy dressed up in a costume. Much like Santa Claus at the mall. Eventually, we all learned that Santa is not real, stopped our traditions of letter writing and leaving out milk and cookies, and went on with the rest of our lives… it doesn’t mean that Christmas was ruined forever.
February 19th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Santa isn’t real? Boy you just ruined it for me–I guess you don’t BELIEVE in a SPIRIT of anything.
Yes, the Chief is worth clinging to because it is something that I cherish and people have gone to war over things they believe in. My 2 issues are this:
–they didn’t let the rest of us say goodbye–only the 17,000 with basketball tickets. Doesn’t an 80 year tradition deserve a worthy “retirement” sendoff for those that do BELIEVE in the Illini spirit?
–secondly, I agree I didn’t like the divide of people, but this is a democracy, and the majority rules, not the minority. If they don’t like the Chief, turn the TV off, don’t go to games, etc. I am offended daily on this campus by arrogant faculty that are rude to women, people that are cruel to others, and the lack of care for teaching (we only care about research on this campus apparently) and I don’t go off the deep end! I am part Indian myself and I love nothing more than the SPIRIT of the Chief even if the dance isn’t real. All that matters is that he is real to me and makes me well up with pride for my University.