2008 Woodie Awards
Illini Media
WPGU
buzz
Illio
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
- < prev Page 3 of 3
Three of the six public commentators who spoke at the beginning of the meeting addressed the retirement of the Chief. Howard Wakeland, an emeritus University professor, addressed the board on behalf of the Honor the Chief Society, calling the Feb. 16 announcement an "administrative fiat." He urged the board to join the lawsuit against the NCAA and allow a court to determine the legality of the body's decision.
Following the meeting, Wakeland said he was not surprised by the board's actions but believes they could regret them.
"The winners here are the NCAA and (state Senate president) Emil Jones," he said. "In the long term, the University lost."
People who were in favor of retaining the Chief were not treated fairly by the board during the consensus process, Wakeland said, but there are more important factors to look at now.
"The question really is who hired outside lawyers because that's the center of this storm," he said. "I think David Dorris was right on the tail of something big that may never surface."
Maloney said he was disappointed with the board's decisions, but that he, Ponce and the council of chiefs will move forward.
"I'm disappointed mainly because I still feel like I'm an outsider on this," he said.
Following the meeting, Wakeland said he was not surprised by the board's actions but believes they could regret them.
"The winners here are the NCAA and (state Senate president) Emil Jones," he said. "In the long term, the University lost."
People who were in favor of retaining the Chief were not treated fairly by the board during the consensus process, Wakeland said, but there are more important factors to look at now.
"The question really is who hired outside lawyers because that's the center of this storm," he said. "I think David Dorris was right on the tail of something big that may never surface."
Maloney said he was disappointed with the board's decisions, but that he, Ponce and the council of chiefs will move forward.
"I'm disappointed mainly because I still feel like I'm an outsider on this," he said.
The Daily Illini encourages on-topic discussion through article commenting on its articles and blogs. It is our policy not to delete any comments based upon political or ideological point of view. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are abusive, off-topic or use excessive foul language.
The posting of copyrighted material, including any and all content for which you are not the author, is illegal under Federal intellectual property laws. Such activity will not be tolerated. Comments containing copyrighted material will be removed, and continued violation of copyright law is grounds for being banned completely from commenting on DailyIllini.com.
If you feel any post meets these conditions or merits review, please e-mail our editors at meonline@dailyillini.com.
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…)
Post a Comment