U of I reports to NCAA on use of Chief Illiniwek

By Todd C. Frankel
Apr. 29 2005

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign submitted a report to the NCAA on
Friday explaining why the school continues to use Chief Illiniwek as a school
symbol.

The NCAA requested similar reports from 31 schools nationwide that use American
Indian mascots or names - schools such as the Southeast Oklahoma State Savages
and the Central Michigan Chippewas.

The NCAA asked about the nickname's origin, its history, how decisions are made
about its future and whether issues of diversity, discrimination and
sportsmanship were considered. It is not clear if the NCAA plans to take any
action.

The Illinois report featured a lengthy compilation of past actions and debate,
said university spokesman Tom Hardy.

The school's stance toward the Chief is unchanged, Hardy said: "The basic
position is that the board of trustees has ownership of the Chief Illiniwek
tradition."

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