Tonight Last night marked the final presentation of Chief Illiniwek, the latest symbol to fall victim of the pc wave that is sweeping the nation.
I don’t get the point. Really. I know that there are symbols out there whose sole purpose is to make fun of and ridicule certain groups of people. I really don’t think this is one of them, you know? I grew up near the U of I and had the honor of seeing the performance of the Chief a few times at a few ball games. Our little high school band even hosted the U of I band when I was in Jr. High, and I do believe he came along. (Jack says he did. Kel? Do you remember?) Anyway, I never once viewed the Chief as being a symbol of mockery. I thought of him as a remembrance and sign of honor to the people who lived on the land before us. I thought of him as a reminder of our history, both the good and the bad. I always thought he was cool, and I can’t imagine the U of I without him.
No, I know, it’s not like someone really died. But I do think that removing him from the forefront of the university’s image will allow more people to gloss over the facts of the many Native Americans who DID live in, die on, or were forcibly removed from that land. Do we really need less reminders of who originally inhabited this land, and what became of them?
And the fact that NCAA sanctions seem to be the final motivating factor (I said seem, I have no facts) makes it just that much more crappy. I don’t think it’s really about the dishonor to the Native Americans (though some do feel dishonored by him), it’s more about the dishonor to the pocketbooks of the school. Now they can go on and host their tournaments and bring in the dough, but with a huge loss to their tradition and identity. Great lesson to the students, don’t ya think?
Head over here to see a video of the past Chiefs and of the Chief’s final dance.
ht: Jackie (she still needs a blog for me to link to)
I do remember that when I was in the high school band we hosted the U of I band. I guess you would have been in junor high at that time. I don’t remember if the Chief was with them. I first heard about this on CNNSI.com and yes it is sad to see him go. The guy who “played” Chief Illiniwek actually gave an interview to CNNSI. You can read it on their site. And Oh Yeah! I’m first to comment!
Doug: It is a bit sad.
I’ll have to go check out that interview. Thanks. 
You know, when they decided to do away with the Redskin at MU, I cried. I still refuse to call myself a Redhawk (I am a hawk, but not a red one). You are correct that a mascot is a symbol of honor. When I call myself a Redskin, I’m saying it with pride. The old MU mascot would travel to Oklahoma to see and learn about the tribe and its traditions. He learned how they wore their paint, what colours, what styles. He was a living memory of the people our great university was named after. Now we have some bird. Is it even a real bird? Does it even live in the Miami Valley? Can we call it the Miami Valley without insulting the Redski… er… Amerindians? Oh, what a shameful world we live in…
I remember the first time I went to an Illini football game (thank you Kay Horsch) and I remember seeing the Chief. What a magnificient sight he was, and what pride everyone in central Illinois had–everyone who attended those games loved the Chief. He was respected and admired. I wish that people would not look for the negative in things so much anymore. The Chief was a symbol of pride for everyone. Whenever the Chief would come out, you could hear the cheering!!! Kids would come up to him and ask for his autograph!!!!! I truly believe that it was a HUGE mistake to let him go like that. I think not long from now, there will be deep sadness and regret for this decision. Nothing will feel the same.
Rantz: You cried? I will have to taunt and ridicule you about that one.
We hit the MU vs. Northwestern game this year, and I noticed all of the fans who refused to wear any Redhawk paraphernalia. Lots and lots of well-worn Redskins gear. Why are you a hawk?
Lisa: What a fun memory of Mrs. Horsch.
I can’t imagine that it will feel the same at a game without him. There are true travesties occurring in the world right now; I wish we’d focus our energy, time and money there, instead.
Kerri,
I’m a hawk for the same reason that you are. Sure, I’d like to be a Viking, but aside from the hat I wear in the winter one would never remember that those ever existed.
I thought it was manly to cry. That’s what I learned on Ellen.
Rantz: And that’s how much I didn’t identify with our alma mater. It took me coming back to your comment about 4 times before I figured out what the heck you were talking about.
And, yes, you are so manly. So sorry to suggest otherwise. 
I think it was wrong to get rid of Chief Illiniwek. It is tradition. How is it racism and how is it abusive? I am Irish and I have no problem with the Boston Celtics Logo or the Notre Dame Logo. I just don’t understand why they did away with it.
Steven: Thanks for commenting.
I agree. No one I know has ever thought of the Chief with anything but pride and respect, for the school and for the native people that he represents. And now my friend showed me a Yahoo article about their plans to remove every image and likeness of him from anything related to the school. Upsetting. Yet the teams will still be using the name, “the Fighting Illni”. Wouldn’t the “fighting” part be the most offensive for both the Native Americans and the Irish?