The Chief is finally gone!!! All our problems are solved. Now we can go back to how campus was before the Chief debate ruined the morale of the students.

Wait … there is no difference.

The so-called “hostile and abusive” attitude that was supposedly within the University never was really an accurate assessment.

Sure, I can vaguely remember a few anti-Chief protesters outside of Follett’s a handful of times. There really wasn’t a disturbance though – not even enough controversy to warrant a call to the University rent-a-cops.

But I guess calling the police is a hard thing for some people on our campus to figure out these days.

Seriously though, it seems that people who are pro-Chief are angry about losing the “tradition” and “pride” that the Chief brings to our campus, while the anti-Chief activists claim that the Chief misrepresents a culture that was stripped of their land and traditions that they were proud of.

Who’s right and who’s wrong?

Who is the judge that can objectively decide what to do with our problem?

The NCAA, sitting on its high horse (no pun intended), has come in and eliminated 80 years of Chief tradition in one fell swoop.

Do not, for one second, think that the NCAA has any sympathy for “hostile and abusive” mascots.

They have a long history of caring for one thing and one thing only: money. That’s what is so sad about how this whole situation was handled.

The reason why the Board of Trustees decided to end the Chief performances had nothing to do with any of the things the anti-Chief supporters said.

They did so under pressure from the NCAA in the form of championship sanctions against our University.

Starting today, the Uniersity may host postseason events. Students and fans of the Fighting Illini, whether they are pro- or anti-Chief can now fork out their money to watch the Illini compete in any number of home sporting events.

With the Illini basketball team on the verge of failing to be invited to the glorious NCAA Tournament, a possible NIT Championship home game could be in our near future.

Think of all the seats in Assembly Hall, each with its own ticket price.

Then there are the bounteous sponsor contracts and glamorous media attention that come along with a home game, not to mention the merchandise and concession sales. With the Chief still allowed to perform, the University wouldn’t be raking in all that money.

I know what you’re thinking, pro-Chief supporters. You no longer want to give one red cent of your future income to a University that eliminated one of the symbols that was very important to you.

But unless you pro-Chiefers end up inventing cars that run on water, or win the lottery, your money doesn’t mean that much to the University.

That is, unless you haven’t paid your tuition yet for this semester.

The University will be fine without the small number of people who actually stop donating their money – that’s the beauty of a state-funded school.

Now about you anti-Chief activists: Are you done complaining? You got what you wanted, didn’t you? Please don’t try to strip anything else from the University, citing your usual banter about political correctness.

If you dare to go after the name “Fighting Illini” or even “Illini,” be prepared to face a much larger and much more “hostile and abusive” group of people.

Taking away a performance that happens during sporting events on campus is one thing, but attempting to strip our name is a completely different task.

In all the politics and controversy around the Chief issue, one thing has been crystal clear in my eyes: The opinions of the students of this University mean very little to the administration.

Losing the Chief is unfortunate, but losing our voice as a student body is a completely different tragedy. Students, it looks like it is time to get back on the warpath and regain our sense of importance.

Mike Rodriguez is a senior in Communications. He can be reached at

[email protected].