UIllinois Symbol Removed

[zznɟ ǝɥʇ]

After a long standing debate and discussion, the University of Illinois have removed the "Chief" as their icon. The NCAA (college sporting organization) imposed sanctions on U of I until the Chief was removed.

The Chief is a representation of the Native American tribe the 'Illini', albeit a shoddy one. Some groups found him offensive; others, a way to open discussion about Native American culture.

Here's some links to sites that explain the issue much better than I could ever do.

Against the Chief

For the Chief

Current news
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Personally, I'm very upset at this removal. I'm currently a student at UIllinois. I have Cherokee (Native American tribe) ancestors. I've found when people talked about the Chief it gave me a chance to tell some history of the region and the culture.

Many have charged that the Chief caused a racist attitude at UIllinois, something I have ever seen. The campus is racially and culturally diverse and few to no conflicts arise.

Furthermore, why hasn't the NCAA gone after teams with names that I find offensive: Redskins? That is out and out racist, yet the Chief is the one attacked?

Sad day for Illinois and Native American awareness.

It goes along with a disturbing trend of being too politically correct in my opinion. I consider myself to be very liberal, yet this goes to far. Why get rid of a symbol of dignity and culture?

[Gaidin]

Personally, I'm waiting for PETA to ***** at UK for using the wildcat. It would be damned amusing.

[Lavastein]

liberals.....god

[Reagan Republican]

liberals.....god

Yeah, really. This is just taking PC too far. Oh well, another victory for Hillary Clinton and her PC henchmen, I guess.

[RZZZA]

Yes...a symbol of dignity and culture, that represents everything that is the opposite of traditional native life? Yes, conquer the natives, brutally oppress and subjugate them as an entire people, destroy their culture, then adopt their image for your own stupid sporting events...?

Who gives a $%^&? When put into scope the entire issue of "racism in mascotry" is ridiculous. Another example of our generation not being able to distinguish real evil from B.S.

[Lord Rahl]

I'd rather have people spend more time trying to help the natives with education and alcohol problems than worry about a damn mascot that most natives wouldn't even care about.

[boofhead]

There should have been no "long-standing debate and discussion" in the first place.

The University should have just said "Get ****ed. End of discussion. Go away."

[Cassy]

It's silly. I wonder how many Native Americans were genuinely offended.

[Erik]

It's silly. I wonder how many Native Americans were genuinely offended.

According to the second article linked in the original post:

In 2002, a Peter Harris Research Group poll showed that 81% of Native Americans support the use of Indian nicknames in high school and college sports, and 83% of Native Americans support the use of Indian mascots and symbols in professional sports. The accompanying commentary concluded that the “poll suggests that although Native American activists are virtually united in opposition to the use of Indian nicknames and mascots, the Native American population sees the issue far differently.”

I really don't see how this "Chief" is racist.
Using images of racial groups isn't itself racist, it only becomes racist when you depict them in a degrading or glorifying way based on their race.

It seems the "chief" is depicted in a glorifying way but:
1) This seems to reflect his occupation (leader), not his race.
2) Glorifying native Americans should be offensive to anyone but native Americans.

[wilpuri]

"Racist", "Race-based imagery", and all of that gobbledygook.

Shouldn't we remove the Dead White Men from American notes because they are so terribly race-based? Surely someone is annoyed by the fact that you can tell they are white, as being able to discern someone's race will only build on racial stereotypes?

I think it has gone on for long enough. Let us come together in a united effort to remove such race-based and racially stereotyping currency from circulation! I propose that we simply replace them with pink notes with the number representing their value. It is time Americans threw off the yoke of racial indoctrination.

Because races don't exist, we fuss about them more than anyone. Logical? Not really, but makes for a good show.

It's silly. I wonder how many Native Americans were genuinely offended.

I doubt ordinary Native Americans got offended. It was probably some state-employed "minority representative" of some sort, who saw a way to once more show that his position and salary aren't a complete waste of the tax payers' hard-earned money.

[zznɟ ǝɥʇ]

What I wonder is shouldn't these activist groups be focusing on things that really matter in the world today, like genocides?

Focusing on a school emblem seems like a huge waste on money and effort.

[Bwaho]

I doubt ordinary Native Americans got offended. It was probably some state-employed "minority representative" of some sort, who saw a way to once more show that his position and salary aren't a complete waste of the tax payers' hard-earned money

indeed...

What I wonder is shouldn't these activist groups be focusing on things that really matter in the world today, like genocides?

nah, we wouldn't want them to actually be working would we?