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TechnographBoard's vote supports end to Chief dance
Feb. 16 decision to retire ratified; one trustee opposes resolution
By Kathleen Foody
Posted: 3/14/07 Section: News
"This is a public declaration that the people of the past were wrong to enjoy this tradition," Dorris said. "I will never do that."
The second resolution concerning the Chief was also voted on Tuesday morning, but was defeated.
The resolution called on the University to join a lawsuit filed by current Chief portrayers Dan Maloney, graduate student, and Logan Ponce, sophomore in Engineering. The lawsuit claims the NCAA's actions against the University for the use of the Chief were illegal. The suit is still pending.
Dorris submitted the resolution and was the only trustee to vote in its favor.
Maloney and Ponce also filed a request for a restraining order against the University to prevent the elimination of the Chief, but it was denied on Feb. 16.
Dorris objected to the decision to hire outside counsel during the University's appeals against the NCAA's decision because the arguments were "180 degrees different" from the position of the board.
Trustee Robert Sperling said he is saddened that his children will never see the Chief again, and that other children will never experience the tradition, but the cost of fighting the NCAA was too great.
Athletic teams and other students have suffered enough and precious state funding is better spent elsewhere, he said.
"No one's going to be happy about this decision," Sperling said. "Each side has lost something ... but this fine institution has not been taken away."
He added that if outside counsel did argue contrary to the board's position it is a valid issue and should be looked into by the board.
Students and community members on both sides of the issue gathered outside the Pine Lounge Tuesday morning and received wrist bands granting them access to the room. The public gallery was filled and one corner of the room wore bright orange shirts, some with the phrase 'Save the Chief' across the front.
A video screen was set up in another room in the Illini Union for overflow opponents and supporters.
The second resolution concerning the Chief was also voted on Tuesday morning, but was defeated.
The resolution called on the University to join a lawsuit filed by current Chief portrayers Dan Maloney, graduate student, and Logan Ponce, sophomore in Engineering. The lawsuit claims the NCAA's actions against the University for the use of the Chief were illegal. The suit is still pending.
Dorris submitted the resolution and was the only trustee to vote in its favor.
Maloney and Ponce also filed a request for a restraining order against the University to prevent the elimination of the Chief, but it was denied on Feb. 16.
Dorris objected to the decision to hire outside counsel during the University's appeals against the NCAA's decision because the arguments were "180 degrees different" from the position of the board.
Trustee Robert Sperling said he is saddened that his children will never see the Chief again, and that other children will never experience the tradition, but the cost of fighting the NCAA was too great.
Athletic teams and other students have suffered enough and precious state funding is better spent elsewhere, he said.
"No one's going to be happy about this decision," Sperling said. "Each side has lost something ... but this fine institution has not been taken away."
He added that if outside counsel did argue contrary to the board's position it is a valid issue and should be looked into by the board.
Students and community members on both sides of the issue gathered outside the Pine Lounge Tuesday morning and received wrist bands granting them access to the room. The public gallery was filled and one corner of the room wore bright orange shirts, some with the phrase 'Save the Chief' across the front.
A video screen was set up in another room in the Illini Union for overflow opponents and supporters.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 63
Jack L
posted 3/14/07 @ 7:29 AM CST
This is great news. So, what's our new mascot going to be?
Bill
posted 3/14/07 @ 9:02 AM CST
How do we get rid of this board? I read where they were moved by some Indian that testified. Well, where's the concern for the feelings of those of us who think that removing the Chief is sickening? Apparently, the feelings of certain groups matter more to these board members. (Continued…)
Lack J
posted 3/14/07 @ 9:11 AM CST
I heard it's going to be Ayn Rand.
Dough Boy
posted 3/14/07 @ 9:14 AM CST
Dear Jack,
As an alumni who had many a class with the fine, upstanding athletes at the University of Illinois I would like to suggest something that would represent them fittingly, how about "The Fighting Illiterates"?
Or how about something that shows the caring and representative nature of the Board of Trustees who thought about and cared for the vast majority of alumni who wanted the keep the Chief, something like "The whining, lily-livered, spineless, liberal, tree-hugging, bleeding hearts politically incorrect"!
For 81 years we had something here at the U of I that set us apart from the rest, we had a (and still do) proud symbol (not mascot) that we could rally around and enjoy for these many years when neither of our two major sports teams could find their collective butts with both hands
Going to a football game in the mid 1970s did not mean seeing a victory, it meant seeing the Chief! Who cared that we lost, there was Our Chief! Now we are no better than any other s
Jack L.
posted 3/14/07 @ 9:28 AM CST
Dear Doughboy,
The Chief will go the way of slavery and segregation. Traditions like these rarely make a comeback.
Sick
posted 3/14/07 @ 9:48 AM CST
That picture of Eppley literally makes me ill...look at that Grinch-like grin on his face. Ugh.
Kevin Schoening
posted 3/14/07 @ 10:50 AM CST
A bunch of white people with the support of some minorities succeeded in applying enough politically correct nonsense in getting the U of I to remove the Chief. (Continued…)
MD/PhD Student
posted 3/14/07 @ 11:01 AM CST
I am sorry that I have to keep reminding people of this, but the University of Illinois was run by the Ku Klux Klan in 1926 when Lester Leutwiler came up with this horrible notion. (Continued…)
Joseph Martan
posted 3/14/07 @ 11:02 AM CST
In doing away with Chief Illiniwek the Board sent a very bad message to the students on campus and to the taxpayers of this state. First, the demise of the Chief reinforces Dr. (Continued…)
kevin
posted 3/14/07 @ 11:10 AM CST
Just because the Chief is gone does not mean that the alumni and students can not continue to whine about how the basketball and football always lose on the road. (Continued…)
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