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Wednesday, August 24, 2005
FSU keeps it's mascot
 The Times has a nice piece (subscription required) this morning on the NCAA's exemption of Florida State from the ban on "hostile and abusive" mascots and nicknames during postseason play. The U of I is still, obviously, on the list though the NCAA has agreed to hear appeals on a case-by-case basis.It appears that the reason for FSU's exemption is its close relationship with the original Seminoles. In fact, it appears that many of the Seminole Tribe actually went to bat for FSU's mascot, and even their "rival" tribe the Miccosukee refused to endorse the ban. Relevance to the Illini situation? None. With no organized Illini tribe there can never be an endorsement of Chief Illiniwek. Moreover, the Chief does not actually physically represent the Illiniwek. According to the Chief Illiniwek Dialogue Report, A. Webber Borchers, who put together the Chief's first costume... ... wanted the colorful regalia of the Sioux for several reasons, not the least of which was that the Indians of Illinois shaved the sides of their heads and he couldn't quite picture himself or any future Chief Illiniwek walking around campus for two or three years with only a scalplock on his head. Also, the Illinois Indians were woodland Indians and did not wear the dramatic war bonnets of the plains Indians.The Chief is, in fact, such a hodgepodge of different Native traditions that it is difficult to actually claim he represents the Illiniwek in any substantial way outside of the name. The headdress is not a historically accurate representation of the Illinois Indians. Neither is the clothing, the moccasins, the face paint, the dance ... etc. etc. etc. In other words, FSU will get this exemption because it does what the U of I has never done: it (dare I say it?) honors the Seminole Indians. Instead of creating a mascot out of thin air, donning him with orange and blue paint and telling him to do flips to represent Native religious dance, FSU created a mascot that is a representation of the actually tribe of actual people who lived (and still live!) in the actual place where the school stands. The differences couldn't be more striking, and it shows how corrupt the ideas of "honor" and "respect" for Chief Illiniwek have become.  
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6 Comments:
It is ignorant poppycock such as this that is hurting the morale of the Fighting Illini. Native Americans should be proud to have an institution such as the University of Illinois utilize their culture to promote sports events. The chief continues to inspire many people to honor the memory of once great tribes. And the university is careful to not let the marketing become too crass. You should do your research better before shooting off at the mouth. Hail the Chief!
Judson Thomas
"Native Americans should be proud to have an institution such as the University of Illinois utilize their culture to promote sports events."
That comment right there pretty much lays out the problem with Chief Illinwek.
Thank you for providing an example for us, Judson Thomas!
what is YOUR research, judson? all i see is some sputtering
btw, FSU keeps its, not it's
Oops. Sorry about the typo.
Judson - is there something specifically sloppy about my research? Or are you, perhaps, being sarcastic? Tough to tell when the words "ignorant poppycock" are used. If you have a specific fact or argument that is mistaken, please let me know.
My guess is that you people posting are to young to embrace any of your own traditions.
Like it or not, once upon a time the native Americans 'made up' this culture that you are defending, just like the students of the last century 'made up' the school's culture.
Early last century, college students borrowed traditions from cultures in the area and made it their own. They used their own colors and dances and for some stupid reason, they used the name Illini. Oh, yeah. The school is named after the state which is named after the tribe. Why this is such an insult is beyond me. I am all for having the name of the state changed as not to insult you morans.
Of course, you can look at this view as ignorance on my part because I am so calloused as not to understand that this is a religious tradition that is being sullied. Yeah, and this religion exists because of the native Americans' ignorance of weather patterns.
Much of this untouchable native American culture has been abandoned by the native Americans, sacrificed for gambling casinos that exploit a loophole in gaming regulations. That's their new culture. Talk about an insult...and the Seminole tribe just bought the Hard Rock franchise. WTF? Isn't that going to ruin their culture? Maybe it'll ruin mine, so I can write angst ridden blogs that about 10 people will read.
Just how long does a tradition have to exist before a person can call it personal and sacred? There are many second, third and fourth generation Fighting Illini (you know, from the college) that don't have a stitch of native American blood in them, but they love their traditions and hold them sacred regardless of their own race. Why is the culture of students (parents, children, grandparents, etc.) less important than the culture of a tribe (parents, children, grandparents, etc.)?
Maybe one day you will be insulted by someone profiteering off the culture that you hold dear... and some nutty college kid with nothing better to do with his life, will carry the torch for you.
By the way, what, besides the Playstation, do you hold dear?
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