Timeline to the end
October 1926
The first Chief appears during a halftime show at memorial stadium.
October 1989
U of I graduate student Charlene Teters begins to silently protest the chief outside of Illinois basketball games
November 1989
U of I chancellor Morton Weir supports the chief calling it a “dignified respected symbol”
Petition begins to eliminate the chief as a mascot
March 1990
A group called “Students for the chief” is formed.
October 1990
U of I Board of Trustees votes to retain the Chief as the University’s mascot 7-1
September 1991
The community begins to take action calling to keep the Chief as the mascot
October 1991
The university announces that the Chief will not make appearances at the Homecoming parade or the Pep Rally
1992
Charlene Teters helps to form a group responsible for calling an end to Indian Mascots and Symbols
April 1994
American Indian members of the University begin to report cases of a hostile racial environment on campus
1995
State legislators and the Department of Education votes to allow the university to decide whether to keep the Chief or not, however, they are advised to work to prevent the hostile environment
October 1997
Homecoming King and Queen show their support to remove the Chief from the university the following year the university announces they will no longer crown a King and Queen
1998
As the debate surrounding Chief Illiniwek thickens more action is created with both sides creating more organizations to support their opinion
May 1999
The university of Illinois is evaluated as part of a certification review by the NCAA. The certification team is asked to withhold full certification until the chief is removed.
2000
The university hires Cook County Judge Louis B. Garippo to oversee the “dialogue” surrounding the Chief controversy. Garippo released a statement summarizing both sides of the argument but does not offer a recommendation.
March 2001
Anti-Chief faculty send packets to potential athletic recruits stating that they would be attending a school that has a racist symbol as the mascot.
April 2001
Native American Peoria Tribe requests the university stops using the chief as a mascot
January 2002
William Cook is arrested while protesting the chief during an Illinois basketball game, as a result, Cook and two other protesters sue the university for violating their rights.
August 2003
NCAA recommends that schools using Native Americans as Mascots self-evaluate to determine if this is offensive
November 2003
Frances Carroll recommends resolution to retire the Chief and keep “fighting Illini” as a representation of the athletic Teams
August 2004
North Central Association reports that the University of Illinois failure to end the Chief issue is a failure of leadership and shows how controversy effects educational effectiveness.
August 2005
NCAA announces policy that bans universities from hosting postseason competition because of their use of Native American imagery.
November 2003
NCAA agrees to allow the university to use the name “Fighting Illini” but keeps the university from hosting post season competition due to its continued use of the chief
February 2007
The University of Illinois announces the choice to no longer use the Chief as a mascot and on February 21st the Chief performed its last dance.
Quote of the day: Sometimes it is.