MinnesotaSoxFan Posted March 18, 2005 Share Posted March 18, 2005 (edited) Native Americans sue Illinois university over Indian mascot CHICAGO -- Opponents of University of Illinois mascot Chief Illiniwek sued the school's trustees Tuesday, claiming the buckskin-clad figure perpetuates a racial stereotype. In its lawsuit, the Illinois Native American Bar Association and two individuals seek to force the school to stop using the Chief as its sports mascot. "The use of this mascot is outrageous. It's been going on way too long and it should come to an end," said Kim Edward Cook, association president. The Chief is a 78-year-old tradition in which a student dresses in buckskins and headdress and dances at sports events. The suit alleges the mascot violates Indians' rights under state law and violates the board's own policies against discrimination. In a statement issued Tuesday, the university said it is not violating any discrimination laws or its own anti-discrimination policies. "University counsel will thoroughly review the plaintiffs' suit and respond appropriately," the statement said. "Meantime, the Board of Trustees continues to move forward with its process aimed at reaching a consensus conclusion to the Chief Illiniwek issue." The Chief has been a divisive issue at the school for years. Supporters say the mascot is a symbol of reverence for the contribution of American Indians to Illinois history while opponents say it is racially offensive and demeaning. Stephen Naranjo, a University of Illinois at Chicago student, is among the plaintiffs. "(Naranjo) feels embarrassed about his heritage being reduced to a halftime sporting event entertainment," the suit said. :headshake Edited March 18, 2005 by silver and black Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanOfCorn Posted March 18, 2005 Share Posted March 18, 2005 QUOTE(silver and black @ Mar 18, 2005 -> 11:19 PM) :headshake Fine, lose the Chief. I'm sick of this. Become the Tigers or the Bobcats or the Squirrels or whatever...but I hope all Native Americans realize that once the Illini drop the moniker Fighting Illini, then the original Illini Nation will truly become extinct. No one will ever ask again, "What's an Illini?" No one will ever do research on who they were. No one will ever care to remember that they were a distinguished midwestern tribe of farmers. And then we will be like everyone else...with a name like Vikings or Blues. Go whatevers!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted March 18, 2005 Share Posted March 18, 2005 How about the Native American Tributes? :banghead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soxman352000 Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 I don't understand what they are so offended about. The Chief isn't some ass-clown mascot that comes out and makes a fool of itself, he is honored and embraced by the students and faculty that attended the Illini games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Tizzle Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 I hope Illinois doesn't buckle under the imposing influence of the Illinois Native American Bar Association. Seriously, I don't. Due to the incessant whining of these plantiffs, I intend to purchase every shirt glorifying The Chief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinnesotaSoxFan Posted March 19, 2005 Author Share Posted March 19, 2005 If the I.N.A.B.A. win this suit, I will seriously be pissed off... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowerCaseRepublican Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 I can see where their beef is -- the outfit worn by the mascot is not that of an Illini but rather that of a Lakota. They are two different tribes so its not even an accurate portrayal of what an Illini is. http://lovethepeople.blogspot.com/2005/03/...con-victim.html Its my blog -- and my opinion on the Chief. There are bigger issues on the UIUC campus before we can even get to a halftime show. And speaking of mascots, wouldn't it be f***ing great if the U of I saved the former Expo (and Creature Workshop creation) Youppi? From a friend of mine -- CHIEF ILLINIWEK's history: Mascot for: University of Illinois Established: 1926 Created by: Lester Leutwiler, a local Eagle Scout Troop Leader YOUPPI!'s history: Mascot for: Montreal Expos Established: 1979 Created by: Jim Henson's Creature Workshop CHIEF ILLINIWEK's appearance: Costume type: Full-body traditional Lakota dress w/ headdress, painted face, bare feet Color scheme: Beige base with colorful (mainly red, white) headdress, face paint, adornment Face: Performer's face exposed, painted YOUPPI!'s appearance: Costume type: Full-body foam rubber and fur w/ oversized cap and jersey Color scheme: Furry orange body w/ peach face, orange beard & mop top, team-colored clothing Face: Performer's face hidden by costume; costume has orange furry beard and hair CHIEF ILLINIWEK's entertainment & marketability: Entertainment duration: Four minutes during halftime of football and basketball games Entertainment style: Choreographed dance routine Marketability: Chief himself only marketable in photographs; circular logo or block I found on most Illinois merchandise, such as T-shirts, mugs, etc. YOUPPI!'s entertainment & marketability: Entertainment duration: Pregame through postgame Entertainment style: Varied; includes barreling down dugout roof and sliding into personal home plate Marketability: Everything from bobblehead dolls to plush toys to traditional merchandise CHIEF ILLINIWEK's controversy: Is the Chief racist? Debate rages among students, alumni, NCAA, community, media, unaffiliated fans. YOUPPI!'s controversy: Can Youppi! be sold? The Expos (read: MLB/Pud Selig) planned to sell the rights to the Youpster to a company quebecois. Is Youppi! so inherently a Canadian or Quebecker that he doesn't belong in MLB or sports in general? CONCLUSIONS: History: While the Chief has historical roots in our nation's fine past, nothing can be more awesome a birthplace than the creature workshop. In fact, if I were to find out that I was conceived there, I would be so proud that I would tell EVERYONE. In addition, how can we not look on someone named Lester who worked with adolescent boys with anything but an arched eyebrow? WINNER: YOUPPI! Appearance: For a school known nationwide as the guys in orange, what does it say about us when there is barely a splotch of orange on a "revered" mascot? The Expos' colors were red, white and blue, but even they knew what was up. Obviously, Youppi! better represents orange and blue than a beige-clad man. WINNER: YOUPPI! Entertainment & Marketability: The Chief's gear sells incredibly well. This is steeped in tradition. People who love the school or the team ought to be just as content with the Block I as with the Circle Chief or a photo of the annual edition of the costumed dancer. The Chief's dance may be cool, but is only a few minutes long. He isn't even there during timeouts. Imagine Youppi! doing a Phoenix Suns Gorilla-esque trampoline slam dunk. The Chief would be dishonored to do such a thing. But the Youpster is always game for a challenge. His singular image would, in time, be able to displace the Chief. The Chief is of a time; Youppi! is timeless. WINNER: YOUPPI! Controversy is no matter for competition. Now, given the results of this objective analysis, I believe that the University of Illinois' Board of Trustees, with the leadership of new Student Trustee from the Urbana-Champaign campus, Nick Klitzing, ought to form an exploratory committee to discuss the financial cost of securing the rights to YOUPPI! Change or compromise are the only solutions to the Chief controversy that has wasted so much newsprint and editorial space in my years at Illinois. We MUST either replace the Chief with Youppi!, or else employ both mascots, side by side, in a display of testicular fortitude found nowhere else in the sporting world. Candidates Kang and Kodos found that "Abortions for some, miniature American flags for others" is how politics in America works. Well, I say, "YOUPPI!'S ANTICS FOR SOME, CHIEF ILLINIWEK'S DANCING FOR OTHERS!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AssHatSoxFan Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 they can change the mascot but the nickname Fightin' Illini has no direct Indian reference if I am right it is based off of those who fought in the war so they can still leave that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IlliniKrush Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 Don't change the mascot, don't change the nickname. I don't feel like rehashing all this crap, but these people can go to hell as far as i'm concerned. Their arguments are ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxy Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Mar 18, 2005 -> 09:22 PM) Don't change the mascot, don't change the nickname. I don't feel like rehashing all this crap, but these people can go to hell as far as i'm concerned. Their arguments are ridiculous. I would agree if it was white people bringing the suit. But I think the fact that it is Native Americans gives a lot more cogence to their argument.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soxman352000 Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 (edited) Now that I think about it why donm't they have members of the Illini tribe decide what changes, if any, need to be made to the chief. I personally am not offended by the chief, but then again I'm not a Native American. I just think that there is nothing wrong with the chief and that he is a great symbol that represents the University Edited March 19, 2005 by soxman352000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinnesotaSoxFan Posted March 19, 2005 Author Share Posted March 19, 2005 Illini are no longer around...if they are then they are moved away to somewhere else... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowerCaseRepublican Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Mar 18, 2005 -> 09:22 PM) Don't change the mascot, don't change the nickname. I don't feel like rehashing all this crap, but these people can go to hell as far as i'm concerned. Their arguments are ridiculous. The mascot isn't offensive in any real sense -- its just idiotic that the University claims it is an Illini representation when the outfit and everything is from the Lakota (a totally different Native tribe) So, the entire "This is an honoring a tradition of our past..." argument flies out the window with the inaccuracy of the outfit/routine. The Illini no longer exist as a tribe and so they can't speak for themselves, the mascot's "gymnastic leaps" have nothing in common with traditional American Indian dance and the mascot appears at sporting events in full feather headdress. "That's a very discourteous and insulting thing to wear if you haven't earned it. It would be like wearing an oak-leaf cluster or five-star medal without having earned it through valor in battle." If they are going for accuracy, then they should go for accuracy. I think that's where the insinuation of insult comes into play. You'd figure at an institute of higher learning we would be able to at least get the damn thing accurate if we were going to engage in such behavior. As a friend of mine put it: The people who are so virulently pro-Chief that they can't let it go are the townies (extended) and the students who, upon leaving college, will have nothing to look back at from their cubicle or middle-management office except for the great tradition that is Illini Sports. The extreme anti-Chief people, on the other hand, seem to care about the symbolic victory for political correctness (You will toe the party line, Comrade!) more than anything else. People's lives will not be affected by the removal of the Chief Illiniwek mascot or the Fighting Illini team name. Except, of course, for the people on both sides who will have to find better things to argue about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodAsGould Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 its a bunch of bs, they been doing it a long time its not harming anyone... this was just like a couple years ago when they tried to make the washington redskins change their names.... we already let them have casino's and the works why worry about a stupid mascot at a college school... you would think they would find something at least a bit more constructive to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanOfCorn Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 (edited) The Lakota dress was given to the university by a chief from South Dakota if my Illini history is correct. What is the University supposed to do if the tribe no longer exists? Here's some background...check the links at the bottom of the page. The Illini were a loose federation of smaller Indian tribes who generally were friendly allies of French settlers. History of the Illini Edited March 19, 2005 by TheDybber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowerCaseRepublican Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 QUOTE(TheDybber @ Mar 19, 2005 -> 01:53 PM) The Lakota dress was given to the university by a chief from South Dakota if my Illini history is correct. What is the University supposed to do if the tribe no longer exists? Here's some background...check the links at the bottom of the page. History of the Illini I stand behind buying Youppi from the MLB. Its an orange mascot which better reflects the school colors, it can be merchandised better, the Creature Workshop is a great place to be born, he can do stuff during timeouts and be more entertaining than a dance routine -- the Chief is of a time, Youppi is timeless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSteve Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 I just hope they go after the state of Illinois. It is such a rude name. Indiana too. The country of India should get it's name changed... The Indians can STFU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shagar69 Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 This is complete BS. The mascot is not in any way offensive. he does not mock their culture, in fact he glorifies it by doing traditional dances during halftime ceremonies. Also it isnt like our name is redskins or anything disparaging like that. I guess i would understand if they wanted the "fighting" out of the name but besides that why are they pissed. And i would be INCREDIBLY pissed if the name was changed. It is a traditional name weve had for a long time. And IMO its better than some generic name like Wildcats or Tigers. Our name is very unique. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nokona Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 I will also be filing suit against Notre Dame for their blatant discrimination of my fellow peoples, the leprechauns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnB Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 We all know nothing is going to come of this, just like it always does. Chief will always be a staple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowerCaseRepublican Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 QUOTE(shagar69 @ Mar 19, 2005 -> 04:15 PM) This is complete BS. The mascot is not in any way offensive. he does not mock their culture, in fact he glorifies it by doing traditional dances during halftime ceremonies. Also it isnt like our name is redskins or anything disparaging like that. I guess i would understand if they wanted the "fighting" out of the name but besides that why are they pissed. And i would be INCREDIBLY pissed if the name was changed. It is a traditional name weve had for a long time. And IMO its better than some generic name like Wildcats or Tigers. Our name is very unique. Um, the dances are not traditional, the outfit is not that of an Illini. As for uniqueness -- Youppi! What other school has a mascot from the Creature Workshop? And at least he is orange instead of f***ing beige. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shagar69 Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 QUOTE(LowerCaseRepublican @ Mar 20, 2005 -> 01:15 AM) Um, the dances are not traditional, the outfit is not that of an Illini. As for uniqueness -- Youppi! What other school has a mascot from the Creature Workshop? And at least he is orange instead of f***ing beige. eh, whatever, lol. The Chief is staying and that is never gonna change Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 LCR on Youppi is starting to sound like Anthrax on Cabrera! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Kickass Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 I am fully behind Youppi! as the new mascot for Illinois. If any big ten team were to adopt the now homeless Youppi! as their new mascot, I'd be forced to change my team affiliation from Michigan State to that team. In fact I think I may have to honor the University further by enrolling and dropping out of a grad program as well. I support Youppi! because, there is a little Youppi! in all of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanOfCorn Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 QUOTE(Nokona @ Mar 19, 2005 -> 11:47 PM) I will also be filing suit against Notre Dame for their blatant discrimination of my fellow peoples, the leprechauns. I'm not of Scandanavian descent, but look out Minnesota Vikings, you're next!!! Youppi! for U of I!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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