What would Alcorn do?

[Deuce]

'Chief Illiniwek' to miss Final Four trip


Top-seeded Illinois is preparing to take on Louisville in the Final Four, but the Illini will take the court in St. Louis Saturday without their mascot.

"Chief Illiniwek," a student in buckskins, feathery headdress and makeup has been less visible at the school's athletic events during the past five years.

Why?

Well, trouble seems to find the Chief, as Illinois has been the target of protests, demonstrations and lawsuits, which claim the figure perpetuates a racial stereotype and demeans Native Americans.

The other three finalists' mascots are expected to attend, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Illinois has come under more fire recently when, in a lawsuit earlier this month, the Illinois Native American Bar Association and two individuals filed suit seeking to force the school to stop using the Chief as its sports mascot.

Yet Chief Illiniwek, who doesn't usually attend road games during the regular season, remains Illinois' official school symbol, and the university wishes that he not be referred to as a mascot.

In January, the NCAA minority issues committee asked schools that use the American Indian as a nickname to conduct a six-month self-evaluation of its use. The findings are due May 1.

The school's board of trustees, meanwhile, has grappled with the controversy for years. In 1990, it supported the Chief. But that endorsement could be fading.

In the fall, the board unanimously adopted a resolution that whatever consensus conclusion it reached would include recognition of American Indian cultures and traditions.

In a vote nearly a year ago, almost 70 percent of Illinois students who participated supported the Chief.

During games, Chief Illiniwek usually doesn't do much except present a four-to-six-minute halftime dance designed to bring fans to their feet.

And even if he did make the Final Four trip, the NCAA has a carefully-planned halftime show, and it probably would not make time for the Chief's routine.

"All aspects of the Chief and its dance should be eliminated," said Jen Tayabji, a former Illinois student who is a member of the Progressive Resource/Action Cooperative, a group involved in trying to do away with the Chief and the "Fighting Illini" moniker.

And so the debate rages on, but as the Chief (who is Illinois student Kyle Cline) sits home this weekend, there will be plenty of T-shirts and signs bearing his likeness in the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

 

[ASU2002]

The University does not use the Mascot anymore. They have started to use the letter A as a replacement. Now this doesn't stop the media from referring to us as the Braves. There has been talk of changing to a different Mascot but who knows what will ever come of that.

'Chief Illiniwek' to miss Final Four trip


Top-seeded Illinois is preparing to take on Louisville in the Final Four, but the Illini will take the court in St. Louis Saturday without their mascot.

"Chief Illiniwek," a student in buckskins, feathery headdress and makeup has been less visible at the school's athletic events during the past five years.

Why?

Well, trouble seems to find the Chief, as Illinois has been the target of protests, demonstrations and lawsuits, which claim the figure perpetuates a racial stereotype and demeans Native Americans.

The other three finalists' mascots are expected to attend, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Illinois has come under more fire recently when, in a lawsuit earlier this month, the Illinois Native American Bar Association and two individuals filed suit seeking to force the school to stop using the Chief as its sports mascot.

Yet Chief Illiniwek, who doesn't usually attend road games during the regular season, remains Illinois' official school symbol, and the university wishes that he not be referred to as a mascot.

In January, the NCAA minority issues committee asked schools that use the American Indian as a nickname to conduct a six-month self-evaluation of its use. The findings are due May 1.

The school's board of trustees, meanwhile, has grappled with the controversy for years. In 1990, it supported the Chief. But that endorsement could be fading.

In the fall, the board unanimously adopted a resolution that whatever consensus conclusion it reached would include recognition of American Indian cultures and traditions.

In a vote nearly a year ago, almost 70 percent of Illinois students who participated supported the Chief.

During games, Chief Illiniwek usually doesn't do much except present a four-to-six-minute halftime dance designed to bring fans to their feet.

And even if he did make the Final Four trip, the NCAA has a carefully-planned halftime show, and it probably would not make time for the Chief's routine.

"All aspects of the Chief and its dance should be eliminated," said Jen Tayabji, a former Illinois student who is a member of the Progressive Resource/Action Cooperative, a group involved in trying to do away with the Chief and the "Fighting Illini" moniker.

And so the debate rages on, but as the Chief (who is Illinois student Kyle Cline) sits home this weekend, there will be plenty of T-shirts and signs bearing his likeness in the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

 

[sidman]

First of all to everyone who is so confused...There's a difference between a mascot and logo...a mascot is the creature you see running around the field or basketball court in a costume...a logo is an emblem that represents the school.

As for the nickname Alcorn as a means of not insulting Native Americans years ago removed "Scalping" from the nickname...and last year they got rid of the old Braves head logo, which may go down in history as the ugliest logo in the history of college logos and came up with the "A" logo for the purpose of product awareness...its a marketing tactic, which a lot of school's that used to be represented with a caricature of some kind have moved to...just pay attention to the college logos they use on sports center when representing a school.

They are still the Braves and will probably always be the Braves...and by the way what a website.

www.alcornsports.com

Charles Sidman

 

[Ronhamp]

First of all to everyone who is so confused...There's a difference between a mascot and logo...a mascot is the creature you see running around the field or basketball court in a costume...a logo is an emblem that represents the school.

I did heard that several Native Americans have stated that they did not feel that Alcorn's use of "Braves" is derogatory. In the early '70s, a Native American received a football scholarship to Alcorn but left for personal reasons before ever playing a game.

 

[Deuce]

W&M assesses use of 'Tribe' name
BY JOHN O'CONNOR
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, April 26, 2005

The NCAA has asked William and Mary to examine its athletic nickname, Tribe.

College sports' governing body expressed concern about the use of American Indian logos, mascots and nicknames that could be viewed as offensive and identified 30 institutions that have them. William and Mary is among 11 Division I schools on the list. Each of the 30 earlier this year was asked to complete a self-analysis regarding logo, mascot and nickname and to return reports to the NCAA by May 1.

The NCAA branch in charge of the process, the Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee, will review results and make recommendations. The NCAA could take no action. It could create legislation that would prohibit American Indian mascots and nicknames, make offending institutions ineligible for championships, or enact financial penalties.

"We have talked about putting more teeth into this," said Robert C. Vowels Jr., the committee chair and the commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

"That's going to be a major discussion in our meetings in June," he said.

About a dozen colleges since the'70s have changed nicknames as an expression of increased sensitivity toward American Indians. Among them are Dartmouth (Indians to Big Green), Stanford (Indians to Cardinal), St. John's (Redmen to Red Storm), and Marquette (Warriors to Golden Eagles). Earlier this year, Southeast Missouri State changed its nickname from Indians to Redhawks.

The NCAA recommends that self-analysis includes examination of the school's efforts to educate athletic audiences on the specific tribe used as a nickname or on American Indians generally, the school's efforts to recruit and retain American Indians on staff, descriptions of educational programs offered by the school that relate to American Indian history, and explanation of the school's outreach to the American Indian community. In the self-study reports, the NCAA expects input from athletic-department officials, student-athletes, community leaders, conference administrators and local American Indian tribes.

The NCAA also wants to know the origin of the school's nickname and its history as it relates to the specific campus.

"We have had no negative publicity or comments with regard [to being called the Tribe]. We've had no issues with it in the time I've been here," said Terry Driscoll, W&M's athletic director for eight years. "Our relationship has always been good with the Indian tribes here in Virginia, so I'm not aware of any issues right here with people being concerned about the name being Tribe."

The Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee, in the conclusion to a 2002 report, stated: "In listening to American Indians, we understand that good intentions by institutions to honor Indian people do not always yield good results. The committee points out that a change in tradition is not an indication that institutions were 'wrong' in the past or that institutions harbor ill will toward American Indians. [A nickname switch] is simply an acknowledgement of changing times and growing awareness and sensitivity."

The Washington Redskins, Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians are three professional franchises that over the years have been criticized for insensitivity toward American Indians. William and Mary is the only Virginia college on the NCAA's list.

Driscoll said William and Mary has not yet completed its self-analysis, in part because a new university president, Gene R. Nichol, will take office on July 1. Driscoll said W&M has requested a deadline extension from the NCAA.

Asked whether W&M's nickname could possibly change, Driscoll responded: "I don't know of any reason. . . . I don't know. I can't answer that question. I haven't talked to our new president about it."

According to William T. Walker, W&M's associate vice president for public affairs, Nichol has not yet been briefed on the nickname issue. Nichol is the dean of the University of North Carolina's law school.

Contact John O'Connor at (804) 649-6233 or joconnor@timesdispatch.com

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