Chief Illiniwek has not performed since Feb. 21, 2007, but Monday, the Council of Chiefs announced a new person to fill the role of the 37th Chief Illiniwek.

The council held tryouts Sunday in Gibson City to choose the next chief and assistant chief. A group of three former chiefs chose Logan Ponce, junior in Engineering, as the 37th Chief Illiniwek and Rob Zaldivar, sophomore in LAS, as assistant chief.

“We decided in September that it is necessary for someone on campus to always represent the tradition, whether or not he can perform,” said Dan Maloney, former Chief portrayer and member of the Council of Chiefs.

Although the chief has been retired as the symbol of the University for more than a year, the council did not change its procedures for selecting the next chief.

The council held workshops to teach potential chiefs how to perform the dance.

They invited former chiefs to decide which of the nine candidates would be the next Chief Illiniwek.

“It was very traditional of what we do every year,” Ponce said. “We didn’t want to change anything.”

The duties of the new Chief and assistant chief will be different than in the past because they cannot perform at athletic events, Maloney said.

“As far as performances, there probably won’t be too many,” Zaldivar said. “But I’ll go to lectures and discussions with (Ponce) and maybe speak and be there to back him up.”

The Council of Chiefs wants to continue the tradition of having the Chief on campus without disrupting Illini athletics, Maloney said in reference to the NCAA’s belief that Chief Illiniwek classified as a ‘hostile and abusive’ mascot.

He said this should be possible because the council is a group of students and alumni that is separate from the University.

“It’s important for the Council of Chiefs to always have a representative in the University in an effort to continue and revitalize the Chief tradition in a way that’s not disruptive to the University,” Maloney said.

The council members think many students still support the Chief, Maloney added.

Students voiced their opinions through a referendum about the Chief on the student senate elections ballot.

Maloney said the referendum passed, which shows continued student support for the University’s former mascot.

As the next Chief, Ponce said he will represent students’ views and opinions about the Chief to the council.

“I’ll give the student aspect of things and try to determine what steps can be taken to bring back the chief,” Ponce said.