Posted on 01/05/2006 7:37:13 AM PST by kellynla
WASHINGTON -- The University of Illinois must soon decide whether, and if so how, to fight an exceedingly silly edict from the NCAA. That organization's primary function is to require college athletics to be no more crassly exploitative and commercial than is absolutely necessary. But now the NCAA is going to police cultural sensitivity, as it understands that. Hence the decision to declare Chief Illiniwek ``hostile and abusive'' to Native Americans.
Censorship -- e.g., campus speech codes -- often are academic liberalism's preferred instrument of social improvement, and now the NCAA's censors say: The Chief must go, as must the university's logo of a Native American in feathered headdress. Otherwise the NCAA will not allow the university to host any postseason tournaments or events.
This story of progress, as progressives understand that, began during halftime of a football game in 1926, when an undergraduate studying Indian culture performed a dance dressed as a chief. Since then, a student has always served as Chief Illiniwek, who has become the symbol of the university that serves a state named after the Illini confederation of about a half-dozen tribes that were virtually annihilated in the 1760s by rival tribes.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
Sounds like we better start one up!
Wait until they lean on North Dakota and the school has to chosse between its nickname and losing $200 million from their NAZI benefactor.
Soooooo true and funny too!
How about the "Whirling Dirtbags"?
the "Triumphant Turnipseeds"?
the "Thundering Amoeba"! Yes, we have a winner!
You know, it's good to see that everything under the oversight of the NCAA is going so well, that they have time to pursue such trivial issues.
NCAA - No Class Alliegence of A*******
They should all just adopt the Nike "Swoosh" as mascots.
Fear the Roo! :)
Artichoke hearts, ripped from the mutilated bodies of defenseless artichokes. Stop their suffering! People for the Ethical Treatment of Artichokes;)
Of course, the Indians lost, so that's like trying to name your teams after famous French war heroes.
There is no grievance group representing the lacerated feelings of artichokes.
Sounds like we better start one up!
I'm from Northern California, home of the Artichokes, I could ask around! ;>) LOL
The mascot has to go?
"the Illini confederation of about a half-dozen tribes.",,,,,,,, The name Fighting Illini has to go?
"Illinois" ,,,,,,,,The name of the state has to be changed ?
This is becoming very series!
Would be great for a midwestern school.
Maybe the Fighting Sheepherders? The Dancing Sheepherders?
As an "American of Irish decent," I grew up cheering for Notre Dame (Fighting Irish) and the Boston Celtics. If I was an Indian (Native American), I would probably cheer for the school that used my tribe as their mascot. These losers need to get a life!
WARNING: Better not call your team the Revolting Cats!
... in a manner reminiscient of Gengis Khan.
that's seared in my memory.poor artichokes.
In fact, wouldn't that be a good team name?
The "Berkley Offended Busybodies"... it has a certain cachet, no?
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