Bob Zuppke, legendary UI football coach for whom the field at Memorial Stadium is named, gave a halftime pep talk to his team in an attempt to fire up his men and evoke the values he wished them to personify. Zuppke spoke of the “Illiniwek,” an Algonquin term translating roughly into, “the men” or as Zuppke spoke of it, “the complete man.” What Coach Zuppke was attempting to get across to his players were the timeless values that would not only aid them on the field but to become better human beings-an unfettered intellect, an indomitable human spirit, and labored physical strength. It was this theory of Native culture that Zuppke admired and hoped to carry on.

Had it not been for an inspired assistant band director, Ray Dvorak, the theory of “Illiniwek” would have never been spoken of today-it would find its place on the ash heap of history with other forgotten noble intentions.

Yet Dvorak, who found Zuppke’s words worthy of consideration, and a student crafted a halftime performance for the game against Penn that would give life to the idea of “Illiniwek.” With student Lester Leutwiler’s ingenuity, Dvorak and the Marching Illini introduced Chief Illiniwek to tens of thousands of cheering fans at Memorial Stadium – he would dance at every game from there on out.

The tradition of Chief Illiniwek was started by students on that day and eighty-two years later it is being continued by students at the University of Illinois Assembly Hall. Though Chief Illiniwek was ‘retired’ by the Board of Trustees in March of 2007, the spirit of the Chief lives on with those who were thrilled by the most stirring and dignified performance by a school symbol in all of collegiate America. Certainly this great tradition, like anything else, was not without protest.

In recent years a vocal minority objected to the Chief as they did any other race-based “mascot.” Yet the chasm between those who supported the Chief and those who did not seemed to not be reconciled as their fundamental understanding of the concept of Illiniwek was so dissimilar. To supporters, it was not that Chief Illiniwek was a Native American image, but rather the spirit that founded the symbol that drove them to preserve it. For opponents, the idea of a Caucasian (or Latino) student dressed in native regalia seemed unforgivable.

It was finally pressure from powerful politicians and the NCAA that terminated Chief Illiniwek, not the willful consent of the UI’s Board of Trustees or her students. Since that time, Students for Chief Illiniwek has labored to not only reinstate the Chief, but to further cohesion on campus by defining what exactly Illiniwek meant for the history of this campus. Was Chief Illiniwek a silly mascot, the racially charged pride of a public institution? We hope and know this is not so.

We believe that Chief Illiniwek is the proud symbol of a great institution that excels in its contribution to mankind and global society. Illiniwek to us and to many students, parents, fans, alumni, faculty and staff, more than eight decades creates a tangible performance to embody an intangible spirit. Chief Illiniwek, to us, does timelessly embody the great achievements of our beloved, ever-changing institution.

There are those, like us, who will always support Chief Illiniwek and look to further preserve the intangible element of which we write.

However, for those who know little of the Chief tradition or do not understand the great controversy surrounding it, we invite you to come to Saturday’s program. Admission is free for students, mostly because this event is intended to be a chance for all to learn a little something about University history, the great spirit of the institution and the Illiniwek tradition, and perhaps about the very dream that Coach Zuppke envisioned over eighty years ago.

The Next Dance will occur at the University of Illinois Assembly Hall this Saturday, November 15th, at 3:30 PM following the football game against Ohio State. Admission is free to students and they are encouraged to get their tickets ahead of time at the Illini Union.

The Students for Chief Illiniwek Officer Team -Roberto Martell, Elyse Eilts, Dan Martin, Ashleigh Hamrick, David Shier, Jacob Dubravec