Group sues university...

March 16, 2005

EXCERPT: CHICAGO -- Opponents of University of Illinois mascot Chief Illiniwek filed a lawsuit against the school's trustees Tuesday, claiming the figure perpetuates a racial stereotype...In its suit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, the Illinois Native American Bar Association and two individuals seek to force the school to stop using the Chief as its sports mascot.

"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." ... Last year, the board approved a resolution celebrating American Indian culture at its flagship Champaign-Urbana campus in hopes of breaking the contentious stalemate.Stephen Naranjo, a University of Illinois at Chicago student, and Roger Fontana, a Champaign resident, also are listed as plaintiffs in the suit.