Month: February 2007

Chief Illiniwek’s last dance

At tonight’s University of Illinois basketball game, the Fighting Illini’s mascot, Chief Illiniwek, will dance his final dance. In a news release (PDF) issued last week, the university announced it was dropping the chief as its mascot after tonight’s game.

Chief Illiniwek

Illinois is the latest in a long line of universities to get rid of Native American mascots, following in the footsteps of schools like Marquette and St. John’s. Writing in PopMatters, Tim Giago, an Oglala Lakota, provides a historical perspective of the battle to drop the chief and notes that “not all ‘traditions’ are honorable.” But not all U of I students are happy with the decision and are showing their displeasure by wearing “chief” apparel today and then switching to black after tonight’s game. Many of the 3,500 students who joined a Facebook group in protest of the decision are expected to dress accordingly.

The name change game, New England edition

Looks like my employer isn’t the only university considering a name change. Some Massachusetts colleges want to switch to “university” status in hopes of attracting “top students, big-money donors, and more prestige,” the Boston Globe reports.

“I think Salem State University would be terrific,” said Joe DeNisco, 21, of Peabody, a senior at Salem State College. “The change in name would solidify us in the eye of a lot of people.”

A bill filed in the Massachusetts Legislature would allow a state college to become a university if it grants doctorate degrees or at least 50 master’s degrees a year. Bridgewater and Salem State College are pushing the plan, “and presidents of other state colleges say they would probably follow suit if the two colleges get the necessary approval,” the Globe reports.