March 23, 2001

Controversy Grows Over Urbana-Champaign's Mascot

Ask Gerald Shea about the controversy over the mascot of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and he corrects you. Immediately.

"It's a symbol," says the chairman of the Board of Trustees, his voice rising proudly. "The symbol has no intention of being degrading to anybody."

But "the symbol" is Chief Illiniwek, and a whole slew of people find the stereotype degrading.

For 75 years, the chief -- "a white boy in full Sioux headdress and

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