As an alumnus of the University of Illinois, I applaud Kevin Cates for the rational and measured tone of his letter, yet I once again disagree with those who urge the abolishment of Chief Illiniwek. Cates accurately dismisses the claim of some of the anti-chief crowd that the chief “is morally repugnant or intended to ensure the dominance of one group over another.”
He falls into the trap, however, of believing all or even a majority of Native Americans are opposed to the chief. I have taken no surveys nor conducted any polling, but there have been many letters to the editor of various publications and newspapers in Illinois written by people who claim Native American heritage (some of whom are even heads of Native American groups) who applaud the chief and are proud to see the state’s flagship university honor Native American heritage. Many of the most vocal anti-chief advocates claim no Native American heritage at all.
If the chief is not “morally repugnant,” then why must he be abolished?
