Did the University of Illinois make the right decision suspending Chief Illiniwek?

No.

I hope that they go after Notre Dame next - nothing like stereotyping the Irish as drunks that fight.

I don't think they made the right decision of suspending Chief Illiniwek. Having the chief as our mascot is out of pure respect, we're not trying to stereotype Native Americans. I am a true Illini fan & I've always enjoyed watching the haftime show at the Assembly Hall. The chief is a symbol of our pride. I also think if the University of Illinois was pressured to change their mascot then other teams should too! It's only fair.

BTW;; I know that the Florida Seminoles have gotten permission to use that.

-linds

As an alum of the Marching Illini, I am disheartened by our board and administration caving into the pressure of the NCAA and the small, but vocal, group of people who complain about Chief Illiniwek being a disruptive presence on campus. It was all basically about money and that's what the board was looking at instead of listening to it's own alumni.

But I will say this, this whole thing about Native American images being used in college sports is wrong. This has all been drawn up by the Seminole tribe (the most vocal of the tribes about the Illini) so that they will be the only one. Trust me, Chief Illliniwek was a symbol of pride and tradition to the University that the board forgot. With majority of the board being registered Democrats, what else do you think would happen.

This whole situation is so gay I cannot believe it. Why do these people think the Chief was chosen as a symbol for the school? Because Indians are big sissies? No! It is because Indians have the image of being strong warriors. It is a freakin' compliment. Nobody ever made their masot a white guy with a briefcase and a neck tie. The Indians should spend less time drinking and being pissed off by the fact that they got pimped by Europeans back in the day and more time figuring out how to contribute to society. We all get pimped in life sometimes...every one of us. Now: my last, and probably most important point. When I went to school in Champaign/Urbana the majority of this movement was manned by rebellion-minded suburban white kids. There were like three old Indian guys involved. So, when you get right down to it, it is all about teenagers who need something to complain about...

...and the school caved in, destroying a decades-old tradition in the process. Nicely done Board of Trustees! Way to earn my alumni donation dollars!

No because if they suspended him then they would have to suspend the Florida State Seminoles mascot. Plus, they had a poll for only American-Indians and I think it was 87% of them said that they didn't mind having an Indian as a team's mascot. Also, look at tall the professional temas that have Indians as their mascots: Washington Redskins, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Blackhawks, Kansas City Chiefs and there are probably some more that I didn't name. BRING HIM BACK!

If i'm no longer incorrect, i imagine the Illini tribe is useless. So why make a huge issue about at the same time as there is not any one complaining about. I went to my first Illini football recreation(Juice's first initiate vs. Iowa) and watching the halftime educate grow to be some thing that you'll not in any respect see again, and that sucks. it is quite a sad day in Illini u . s ..

They gave in to the pressure of the NCAA so they could host tournaments ..It is a shame that they have to do that in this day of politicl correctness..i wonder if peta is going to get involved into team nicnames soon and then when and if that happens it is all gooing come to an end...of us giving in to smaller groups who just have to hate everything and anything that they don't like

no they didnt.. im from chicago but live in florida now. people down wouldnt think of gettin rid of chief oceola at FSU! the illini are not doing anything disrespectful with their mascot. it is out of pride that they are named after the illini tribe.. for pete sakes, our state is named after the tribe.. im goin after the demon decons.. i believe it is offensive to me as a christian.. i mean how far are we going to go. how bout the Greeks goin after Tommy trojan at USC...

illinois should take an example from florida and respect our native indian backround.

Yes

no, next the ncaa will demand that ohio state removes brutus because it's demeaning to nuts like themselves!