Debatable -- Are American Indian mascots appropriate for sports teams?

By Brent Killackey

Thursday, September 23, 2004 12:04 AM CDT

Chief Illiniwek - the mascot of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana - stands directly in the sights of American Indian activist Leonard Malatare.

Malatare, a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, is leading an effort to retire the longtime mascot. He will speak tonight at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside about Indian sports mascots and Chief Illiniwek. The lecture, which will be held from 6 to 7:15 p.m. in room 129 of the Communications Arts building, is free and open to the public.

Should Illiniwek be retired? Proponents of maintaining the mascot assert that Chief Illiniwek is a proud symbol of the school's and state's heritage and honors the original Illiniwek people, which were a loose confederation of tribes that inhabited what became the state of Illinois.

Rather than being demeaning, proponents argue that the mascot promotes greater education and awareness of American Indian people, culture, traditions and history.

Then there's the results of a poll commissioned by Sports Illustrated in early 2002, which found that non-activist American Indians weren't nearly as bothered by the nicknames as activist American Indians were.

Critics of the mascot contend his halftime performances at men's basketball and football games demean American

Indians.

Chief Illiniwek promotes negative and racist stereotypes of American Indians as uncivilized and wild, opponents say.

As for the educational aspect, the mascot's dance and attire aren't even authentic Illiniwek moves or dress, but rather costumes and steps adopted from many different American Indian tribes.

The mascot has created a heated debate on the University of Illinois campus, and a southeastern Wisconsin university may face a similar debate.

Marquette University's Board of Trustees was expected Wednesday to consider whether its mascot change - from the Warriors to the Golden Eagles - should be revisited.

During a commencement address in May, the board's vice chairman, Wayne Sanders, said he and another trustee would each give Marquette $1 million if the Warriors name was restored.

Marquette changed it mascot in 1994 to avoid offending American Indians. The Warrior mascot was long tied to an American Indian.

Some people contend that the Warrior name could remain, but with a different logo and mascot.

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