University of Illinois Students Pushing for Return of Mascot
By: Chris Veech
Updated: March 15, 2013
He may not be coming back, but it is clear Chief Illiniwek still has
strong support among University of Illinois students. Almost 80 percent
of students say they think the American Indian mascot should be the
symbol of the school's Champaign campus. The university dropped the
chief mascot in 2007 under pressure from the NCAA. Opponents argued the
mascot demeaned American Indians. Supporters maintain Illiniwek is a
respectful symbol.
