Whether the announcement to end the 80-year-old Chief Illiniwek tradition prompted a painful sting or a sigh of relief among the University of Illinois faithful, it was unequivocally a watershed moment in our history. Illinois Alumni presents this pictorial about Chief Illiniwek, in addition to news from the campus about the future of the trademark, what will become of other activities that were associated with the symbol and how some alumni are working toward reconciliation.

Over the span of 80 years, Chief Illiniwek was portrayed by 36 University of Illinois students. Pictured here is the first Chief, Lester Leutwiler ’29 ENG.

The emotional last dance of Chief Illiniwek at the Assembly Hall on Feb. 21 brought to a close nearly two decades’ worth of concentrated attention on what had been the official symbol of the University of Illinois.

While opinions on the Chief have varied since he initially appeared in 1926, most people point to the modern controversy as starting in 1989. From that point, the issue drew in participants that included the UI Board of Trustees, pro- and anti-Chief student and alumni groups, state resolutions, American Indian tribes, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the U.S. Department of Education, federal judges, a Dialogue on the Chief and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

In August 2005, the NCAA’s new policy on collegiate use of American Indian imagery placed Illinois on a list of schools banned from hosting postseason competition. A year and a half later, the University announced that the Chief, his name and his logo would no longer continue. Chief Illiniwek appeared for the last time at the Feb. 21 men’s basketball game at Assembly Hall.

While student portrayer Dan Maloney ’06 LAS ended that occasion with an unprecedented return to center court for a final, silent acknowledgment to the fans, the Chief Illiniwek issue was not yet closed. Questions remained about trademark rights to the name, logo and other activities long associated with the tradition, such as the Three-in-One performed by the Marching Illini. Chancellor Richard Herman was tasked by the UI Board of Trustees with resolving those issues.

“I have initiated a comprehensive process and intend to move expeditiously, all the while keeping in mind the board’s stated goal of honorable retirement,” Herman said.

Despite the symbol’s retirement, the U of I and its licensing agency, Collegiate Licensing Co., plan to continue to protect the University’s ownership rights against infringement by implementing strict limitations on its future use.

The University’s more than 400 licensees have until June 15 to sell their existing inventory of Chief merchandise and have until Dec. 31 to sell or distribute wholesale merchandise. Retail outlets will be allowed to sell legally purchased merchandise until their inventories are exhausted.

And while the Chief himself is gone, Chancellor Herman has asked the Marching Illini to recommend ways to preserve the band’s traditional halftime performance without using American Indian imagery.

“Saying goodbye to the Chief tradition is hard for many people, just as the Chief tradition itself was hurtful to many people,” Herman said. “My goal in moving forward is to lead a healing process for everyone who cares about this issue.”

How will the campus community move forward after years of contention?

Hope for solace and reconciliation appeared in several published commentaries by alumni, who reflected on their support for the Chief in light of support for their Alma Mater overall.

One such alumnus was James H. Waddell, MBA ’01, president of the Rockford Illini Club, who wrote in the March 18 (Champaign-Urbana) News-Gazette, “We hope we can work together to continue to make the University of Illinois one of the premier universities in the world – where people from all races and nationalities come together in the pursuit of that excellence, honoring each other for their differences and their contributions. What better way to honor the spirit of Chief Illiniwek?”

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