[ life:revisited 2010 + 1 ]

So it took me a day or two to decide where I wanted to go first but after a prolonged one sided debate I choice a semi-political start. Thanks to the miracle or curse that is social networking I'm able to keep up with things on the home front but somethings never change. One of the first things I learned once I began my education at the University of Illinois was that it was a highly politically charged atmosphere with a diverse set of views that I felt was one of the hallmarks of the school in giving everyone a chance to speak. Little did I know that this would cause no amount of heartache for alumni, students, grad students, friends and family members alike.

Through my career I was always an avid Pro-Chief supporter, even more so in later years as a couple of close friends portrayed Chief Illinwek. I have always stood by the stand that the Chief was never a mascot but a symbol of the school and of the proud people that once inhabited our state.

Many people don't realize a couple of key facts. First the Fighting Illini team name was not meant to describe the Native American, it was adopted after World War I to help be a campaign driver for fundraising for the construction of Memorial Stadium to honor veterans from all wars from the State of Illinois, whose names to this day are still listed in the halls and on the pillars of the stadium. The Chief was used at half time of sporting events from 1926 until 2007 not as a mascot but as a symbol of the University. In 1995 it was passed into law that the symbol of the University of Illinois was to be Chief Illiniwek. In the years after student votes were taken to ask about retiring the Chief due to mounting critism from Student Groups and other orginizations. In all cases the majority of students (avg 73%) voted to retain the Chief as the symbol for the University.

In 2007 the NCAA stepped in and passed legislation that any schools that use "hostile and abusive American Indian nicknames" would be banned from comepeting in NCAA sanctioned competitions or hosting said events. Due to this pressure the U of I was forced to retire the Chief. Not because of the "democracy" of the students or from a change in state legislature but from an outside entity that applied "financial" pressure. Since 2/21/07 the Chief hasn't performed at any sporting events.

In the recent weeks the topic has reemerged yet again about changing the name of the athletic teams and give us a more "Politically Correct" team name. Also it has come to light that some of the advisors and board of trustees at the time for the U of I may have been part of the "clout" scandal that is still hanging over the University.

In my minor opinion this would be yet another in a long line of failures for this distinguished school. By getting rid of the name we lose a link not only to a past of bravery and sacrifice but of a history of what this country used to be. We also erase one more link to the people that inhabited this great country before we arrived and the history that is rich in ways we have yet to imagine. So once again we let democracy die. I guess the good of the few does out weigh the good of many. Just some random thoughts.

Hail to the Orange, Hail to the Blue.
Hail to the Chief