There's been chatter all over about this for the past few days, but I've now confirmed with enough off-the-record sources to move with the story: absent some sort of intervention by the courts at a 10 AM hearing tomorrow, the UI Board of Trustees plans to eliminate Chief Illiniwek tomorrow.
I can't point to confirmation with any links, but I'm confident in the veracity of the story. Numerous media organizations are also working to confirm with on-the-record sources, but have been unable to do so.
I do not know if the elimination will be immediate, or if the Chief will peform throughout the remaining home basketball games.
UPDATE: The Daily Illini confirms:
The popular blog IlliniPundit.com posted today that the University Board of Trustees will eliminate the Chief tomorrow, in one form or another. Sources within the University and close to the Chief tradition confirmed that Board of Trustees President Larry Eppley intended to single handedly retire Chief Illiniwek under pressure from Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones.
The decision will come one day after the current portrayers of Chief Illiniwek filed suit against the NCAA and the University. The suit is seeking a restraining order that would keep the NCAA from enforcing its policy declaring the Chief "hostile and abusive." Sources say that the lawsuit is a pre-emptive strike intended to prevent the University from retiring the Chief. The hearing on the suit is scheduled for 10 a.m. tomorrow. Should the court issue an injunction, the University will be prohibited from putting the plans to retire the Chief in motion.
This way there's no Open Meetings Act requirements, and Chairman Eppley can take all the heat by himself, and the NCAA can lift sanctions in time for postseason events for winter sports (including a men's basketball home game in the NIT, if they miss the NCAA Tournament). Other media outlets are scrambling to catch up, but this is for real.
Great work by the DI in confirming the story. And a big thank you to them for pointing out that it was first posted on IP.com - I doubt any of the other media outlets will bother giving credit to either us or to the DI.
Keep watching the DI website for updates.
UPDATE: I'm going to "sticky" this post until at least Friday morning.
ANOTHER UPDATE: From Kiyoshi:
First, the Champaign-Urbana political blog IlliniPundit.com threw up a post that the retirement of Chief Illiniwek would occur on Friday, Feb. 16. However, it was confirmed with several off-the-record sources.
The Daily Illini then picked up on the story and through multiple — and as of yet, unnamed — sources rolled with the story and was the first “mainstream media” publication to break the story online at 10:43 p.m. Thursday.
Imagine that! A weblog and a college newspaper breaking a story hours before any other professional publication.
It does feel good to see someone else confirm it, as I've had so many reporters call me this afternoon and tonight asking me for my sources.
UPDATE: Unstickied.
UPDATE: The University has issued a release announcing the retirement, even in advance of the 10 AM court hearing.
The University of Illinois today announced that Chief Illiniwek will no longer perform at athletic events on the Urbana-Champaign campus after this season’s last men’s home basketball game in Assembly Hall on February 21.
As a consequence, the University will immediately become eligible to host post-season National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship events.
There you have it. For more background from UIUC, go here.
Thanks for the early tip. Without giving away sources or violating other protections, could you let us know why you believe this off-the-record news is true?
"Without giving away sources or violating other protections, could you let us know why you believe this off-the-record news is true?"
Because over the past few days, I've had a number of people call me and tell me that this was the plan, and they're people that I know are close to the situation, and people that I trust.
Someone else called me to tell me that Loren Tate also reported this ("Eppley is going to get rid of the Chief tomorrow," or something to that effect) on the 5PM sports talk show on WDWS, but I didn't personally hear it.
I'm giving you credit for this one, illinipundit. Don't let me down.
i can only hope you're right. it would be a nice ending to the week.
He's right... a more interesting suit would be how this decision violates the Open Meetings Act, but that's another story.
--
j
Part-Time Pundit
I personally like the Chief emblem. It's a solid piece of graphic design and dignified in my opinion. But, in trying to keep a sense of humor with this incredibly divisive issue, I've started http://ChefIsForever.com. So far, it has gotten a lot of laughs and has actually gotten people from both sides of the issue to talk to one another.
It's too bad that we have to have an issue like this that divides a normally united area, so I hope that as the days progress and the Chief is retired, we don't let this separate us any more.
Visit http://ChefIsForever.com to show your support for UIUC and C-U uniting under a common theme that has been reworked so as to include both the supporters of both sides of the Chief issue.
I was wondering about that myself. The trustees will have to give a reason for calling a meeting and taking action.
"Visit http://ChefIsForever.com to show your support for UIUC and C-U uniting under a common theme that has been reworked so as to include both the supporters of both sides of the Chief issue."
Nothing like a little shameless capitalism. Go get 'em!
"I was wondering about that myself. The trustees will have to give a reason for calling a meeting and taking action."
It won't be a BoT meeting. It will be Chairman Eppley, issuing a statement, thus no Open Meetings Act requirement.
Capitalism, yes. Shameless, no. As a supporter of Chief, I thought that this would be a nice way for us to be able to share feelings in a commonly supported way. It's CafePress.com that prints the shirts and makes money, I presume. I had the option to mark up the prices for each item. How about I mark everything up 5%. At the end we can have a drawing and the winner gets to decide which not-for-profit organization gets the moolah. Anybody else game for this?
If you want different items or designs, let me know and I'll see what I can come up with.
Thanks,
Andrew
http://www.chefisforever.com
"Capitalism, yes. Shameless, no."
I didn't mean that as a criticism - I don't begrudge anyone making a profit off an idea if it has appeal to people.
Eppley has no authority to make that decision himself... I suppose he can announce a resolution on retirement, but he can't make it so. I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure all policy matters have to be decided by the board as a whole.
And will Emil Jones pony up funding now that the BOT has decided to be his bitch? Somehow I doubt it
--
j
Part-Time Pundit
"Eppley has no authority to make that decision himself... I suppose he can announce a resolution on retirement, but he can't make it so. I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure all policy matters have to be decided by the board as a whole."
As long as no other BoT members force the issue, then Eppley can speak for the Board. And no other BoT members will force the issue.
My semi-informed guess, he'll announce that a "consensus" decision will be on the agenda for the next BoT meeting that will satisfy the NCAA.
Will Senator Frerichs be commenting on the decision of his boss, Jones, forcing this issue through his puppet Eppley? And what will the payout be to UIUC - you know that there has to be money attached to any decision involving Jones.
I find it amazing that so many here are attributing the chief's demise to Jones. Cmon, it's been a 15-year fight by those opposed to the chief, plus the trend of the times that got the BoT to this point. It finally took the NCAA acting on what it believes in a way that forced the board to reconfirm their decision. It appears the board will reverse themselves. I for one am glad they will. But I'm still embarrassed that it took them so long.
It will be nice for the chief to not be the primary thing reported about UIUC in the mainstream national press. I suspect a few of our world-famous faculty might appreciate it, for instance. I will also finally donate money to my alma mater if they finish this thing. I've told them every time they've asked for money that I won't give until the chief is gone.
tribune has it:
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/illinois/cs-070215illiniwek,1,6252671.story?coll=cs-college-headlines
And will Emil Jones pony up funding...?
Exactly, John. However, Jones political calculus is that neither his district, the governor, nor the legislature will hold him accountable for doing in the Chief. There is no downside for him.
This, if true, is a good thing. I think we must all be pretty tired of this issue by now.
On to Other Things! Finally!
It appears to be true. Glad I didn't take down my reference, which gives credit to this site.
Great job Gordy. When I heard it this morning on WICD, it wasn't such a shock. I'd already read it on IP. Biggest story in years.
Will the U of I and the NCAA now face a class action suit by the fans who bought merchandise that portrayed Chief Illiniwek in an effort to recover the millions of $'s they recieved as a direct benefit of their past sanction of this racist symbol?
I'm sure the fighting over the name "fighting Illini" will go on. I'm hoping the consensus resolution is that we retire the Chief and Kaufman and his ilk... but I doubt it. I could live with that compromise. Or we retire the Chief and everyone who engaged in the violent occupation of Henry gets fired and/or prosecuted.
--
j
Part-Time Pundit
My concern is with the aftermath of the announcement. I hope the University has a plan in place to address the reactions of students and the community.
I doubt that kaufmann and company will be satisfied. Remember his latest comment in the paper--that he'd never seen such a racist campus as this one. Of course, he failed to take any responsibility for any of the hard feelings. I'm sure that now he has persuaded the Board of Trustees to take this action, he'll turn his sights on something else. I doubt if he's the kind of person that will go quitely into the night.
When the Chief retires, so does any chance of me ever contribuing to the University in any way, shape, or form.
This demonstrates the appalling lack of leadership at UI, from the President, Chancellor, BOT and AD. No one wanted to make a decision, so Emil Jones threatened them and they backed down like cowards.
FIRE RON GUENTHER!!!!
I'm not sure how this campus is so racist... even at the forum, the only complaint that they bothered to address was the Chief. Sure, the mentioned in passing a forced culture of silence (how they claim this with as much as people have forums and protests on the Chief, I have no idea), threats and intimidation. I'd really like to know if that goes on, but when asked to elaborate on how the campus is racist, it's all Chief all the time.
Kaufman is a thug. Pure and simple.
--
j
Part-Time Pundit
Income from alumni gifts and various endowments composed just 8% of UIUC's total budget for the 2006 fiscal year (source: UIUC Campus Strategic Plan). It's unlikely that your missing contribution will be deeply damaging, though it's also mysterious why your affection and suppport for the university rests on a dancing, divisive symbol alone.
That 8% is likely bigger than Illinois' contribution though... and certainly comes with a lot less hassle.
--
j
Part-Time Pundit
My bad, I recalled reading the state's funding wsa below 10% at one point, it's actually around 30% with all things considered.
--
j
Part-Time Pundit
It seems like only yesterday one could go to an Illini game, hear the crowd boo if five black guys were on the court at the same time and then afterward go light up a cigarette and puff away while your kid ate chocolate chip pancakes and stared at the "tar-baby-being-chased-by-a-tiger"-adorned walls at Sambo's restaurant.
Fieldmouse: I, like most of the silent majority, quietly vote with my pocket book. I'd like to see the fringe liberals raise that 8% with sit-ins and attention seeking demonstrations.
The Chief's kaput, and Emil Jones is the designated scapegoat.
Now it's all over but the whining.
Please Let this be True!! This racist caricature has been allowed far too long. Ending it is long overdue. UIUC can find some other gimmick to use to sell the school. They don't need to resort to inept, incompetent inaccuracy of the county's previous inhabitants. The lawsuit's just as frivolous as the cartoon. Hopefully, it won't take 80 yrs. to disappear.
If they take the chief away I think the next BB game every one should show up in foam head dresses and have foam tomahawks. just to make a point. insted of paint the hall orange it could be foam feather the hall.
hmm, perhaps everyone who is unhappy with this decision should just not show up to the game at all! that will show them. then we can shut down athletics alltogether and refocus the university on what should be its core mission: education.
By education, you mean indoctrination.
We could become a fully-owned susidiary of the Socialist Equality Party! Oh wait... boo... property rights!
--
j
Part-Time Pundit
The Chief has been on his way out for at LEAST ten years. I'm quite frankly surprised that anyone is surprised by this announcement.
Back in 1997 or so, none other than the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette did a feature investigating what exactly happened at other big name schools that got rid of their Indian mascots[1]. Although people would complain about how contributions to the university would fail, it turns out that in fact, they don't. They don't decrease or increase, beyond the limited increase that's average over time. Apparently the people who write all the letters saying they'll never give a dime, don't give many dimes to start with, and there is still plenty of demand for wealthy benefactors to see their names carved into stone or announced on the radio every hour.
One of the schools featured was Stanford. They used to be the Stanford Indians until 1972 when that was dropped in favor of "Cardinal" and the tree logo. Alumni donations didn't fall off. Sure, fans in the stands clung to the "Indian" gear (although it was no longer for sale) but with no official support, it died out after a while.
The "Chief" isn't even remotely like a real Illiniwek or related member. It's the equivalent of calling a German guy French because hey, they both come from Europe, and his costume was made by a real Spaniard. He's a Boy Scout Indian, which is a very American tradition, rooted as far back as the Boston Tea Party and Tammany Hall, but it's a tradition that is anachronistic in this day and age, so it's time to let it go. Put up a statue, and let's move on.
Let's GET a real mascot, one that isn't divisive, something that we can cheer, something that can DO cheers, and get the crowd going, and doesn't require all manner of psuedo-religious PC kid gloves treatment all the time.
If the school keeps the Illini name, I just hope it doesn't stand in the way of getting a real new logo and image, and a real mascot. Though, it's possible to have multiple names and even multiple mascots or logos.
But having a blank spot on the field while the band plays the three-in-one and everyone cries, will be LAME. Do it once, maybe, but then, let's MOVE ON.
[1] Yes, yes, I know. Call it what you like, it makes little difference.
Hey, now we know for 100% certainty the most awesome mascot in the state of Illinois is the Saluki. Being a future alum of SIU, I always thought that, but at least the Loony Left hasn't attacked the Saluki for being a support of cruelty to animals.
Well, why don't you ask pmcurious why she based her contributions exclusively on the Chief's existence? The board and everyone else caved in. What a shame..
Now, our family tradition of saying, "Wait a minute! That's not an Indian! It's a white guy in a suit!" has been ruined. I suppose we could just say the same thing when Weber comes out, but let's face it, it's just not the same.
<>
I think the fans should "Paint the Hall Black" on Wednesday at the Basketball game.
I'm tempted to try to get tickets for Wednesday's game -- not the see the inane dance for the final time, but to see the inane reactions of the hapless status quo defenders who will watch another vestige of the past slip away.
The great irony in all of this is that the image of the Chief will no longer have the protections of the institution to monitor its usage. They've now essentially put the image of the Chief, unchecked, in the hands of the populace (ie, "drunken fratboys"), who will enjoy the protections of the First Amendment to portray the Chief in any light they see fit. Think the Chief is a cartoonish, racist symbol now? You ain't seen nothin' yet...
Legal experts who've been following this more closely should correct me if necessary, but it's my understanding that the U of I has not relinquished ownership of the Chief, but rather has agreed to no longer make public use. This would imply that the U of I may still take whatever legal action is appropriate to prohibit unauthorized usage.
Good luck with that! LOL
To be historically accurate, I think that an actual descendant of an Iroquois warrior should be up in C section taking aim with bow and arrow on the Chief at the end of Wednesday's performance. After all, the University of Illinois is an institution of learning and we want to teach an accurate lesson with this retirement.
That alone would be worth the price of admission.
Forever to be known as LARRY, " THE WEASEL" EPPLEY. I guess the word FIGHTING ILLINI does not refer to these milktoast frauds on the board. Take a lesson from NORTH DAKOTA. I just became a FLORIDA STATE FAN...
The hapless status quo defenders will never allow the Chief to be taken out with an arrow. They'll have cavemen armed with clubs and ready to storm any positions. GEICO will back their efforts.
Make a statement and stop funding all activities at UofI. Also stop your children from attending such a politically weak institution.
The nonsense must stop somewhere.
Here would be a good start.
Agreed...I will never send a contribution the the University as long as they continue to disrespect the Chief. Picking a new 'mascot' would only intensify those feelings. And SuperJ, you are correct...the University has ceded all control over how the Chief is portrayed. Sure, they 'own' him, but that would be a LOT of work to control. Friends of the Chief...it is YOUR responsibility to NOT let the Chief die. Whether it is to dress as the Chief, dance as the Chief, wear your Chief t's, or carry a banner....DO NOT LET THE CHIEF DIE!
And go to
thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/987672837
to sign the petition
IYou can argue for or anti chief all day long but the bottom line is his performance was legal and not dangerous and it was a performance (not obligated to be authentic or non offensive to someone). The group that wielded so much power disproportionate to their numbers were and are empowered by their perceived "victim status". This in itself is bogus on 2 levels 1. As individuals there is no documentation that those who say they were offended are or ever were victimized any more than anyone in this world is. There are fat, ugly dumb, socially inept, short men, tall women, etc that are treated badly not hired, promoted, “includedâ€Â, respected etc.etc. .. Every day. Its life.2.. Yes the Native Americans of 100 years ago suffered greatly and wrongly at the hands of the government and general population. The Native Americans of today ARE NOT THEIR ANCESTORS. They did not suffer the way their ancestors did yet they want to parlay their ancestor’s sufferings into pity, guilt ridden special treatment today. The Native American culture was of 100+ years ago truly had honor, dignity, courage, integrity and fierce independence; I do not see that in the Native Americans of today. With their incessant whining, self pitying, and use of the guilt of whites that were not even born when this country destroyed the Native American culture, they have become what the Native Americans of 100+ years ago use to call "fort Indians"( The ones who gave up their independence and hung around the forts begging.) While they fight paper tigers like Illiniwek, and in the process, (mostly because of dishonest unethical tactics), bring down enormous bad feelings towards Native Americans, they build casinos in their sacred lands like grand Marais and despoil them. HOW DO THEY JUSTIFY DISPOILING THEIR SACRED LANDS TO MAKE A FEW BUCKS? WHERE IS THE COMMITMENT TO NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE IN THAT? There is rampant violence and alcoholism on their reservations and now gambling problems. Yes, the white culture destroyed the Native American culture as it existed including their economy, interpersonal mores and duties, and their values. But we cannot go back in time and it is going to be up to Native American as individuals if they want to live with the dignity, honor independence integrity that they profess to hold so dear. The truth is the Native Americans have already lost the qualities (see above) that so distinguished their culture in the past and all they can do now is to try and LOOK as though they have not been so diminished. So they fight hollow fights like Illiniwek using degrading tactics (if you can’t beat the white man join him) and hope no one will notice. So this token victory perhaps will be celebrated at the next pow- wow by doing non- WCK (white college kid) authentic sacred dances. The sad thing is, the sacred dances mean nothing without the honor, dignity, courage, spiritual; life, fierce independence and integrity that went with it. We saw little enough of any of that during the past 20 years from the anti-chief crowd. Crazy Horse, Kicking Bear, Chief Joseph, Cochise, Red Cloud must be turning over in their graves!