As a new University employee three years ago, I was offered free “Welcome to UIUC” tickets to attend the Aug. 27, 2022, home football game against the Wyoming Cowboys.  

I love college sports, so of course, I planned to go. 

As a Native American, my first thought was, “I hope I don’t see any Chief gear.” But then I reflected — it has been 15 years since the University retired its long-time mascot Chief Illiniwek. I should not see any Chief gear or comments on social media. 

Boy, was I wrong.

Before the game, I went to the official University social media account, just to see all the colorful photographs and fun atmosphere, hoping to share photographs of my new school. I was shocked to see so many Chief images in the comments section, “Cowboys vs. Indians” comments and comments encouraging new students to “buy Chief gear” to wear to the game. Some of these had been liked and shared hundreds of times.  

Before I even made it to the game, I emailed the Office of the Chancellor to ask what was going on: Why was he allowing the perpetuation of these offensive images on our social media? 

“It is probably redundant to say, but since I am new, I will — these images and comments perpetuate racism on our campus and at our events,” I wrote. “And for new Indigenous faculty (or staff) such as myself, (it) also creates a hostile environment to work in and participate in campus events.” 

Then I went to the game. While there, I saw numerous people wearing T-shirts, hats and other gear with Chief Illiniwek blazoned across them, despite the NCAA Executive Committee deeming this kind of imagery as “hostile or abusive.” 

Several days later, a staff member of the Office of the Chancellor emailed me back. 

“I’m very sorry that our first week back in the semester also brought with it another series of insensitive and disrespectful posts around Chief Illiniwek and Native peoples,” the office wrote. 

They further added that they would not do anything about it because it is protected by freedom of “expression.”

Remember the public relations campaign, “If you see something, say something?” Well, I have been waiting for others on campus to say something, and no one has. Now that a new football season has begun, I will tell you what the chancellor will not: Stop wearing the Chief!

Let’s start with what any proud top-tier R1 institution values — the research! Offensive Native American mascots and imagery can potentially make you prejudiced toward Native peoples. 

Research published by University alum Joseph P. Gone, who is currently a professor of anthropology, global health and social medicine at Harvard University, showed that “long-term exposure to American Indian mascots … were associated with more prejudice toward and less support for American Indian rights.” Gone, alongside fellow researchers, has published several related articles, which are just the tip of the iceberg.

Mascots and the imagery associated with them can increase your implicit bias toward Native peoples. Earlier research showed that even “incidental exposure to Native American sports mascots can reinforce stereotypes in people.” And, “more disturbingly, people aren’t even aware that this subtle reinforcement is taking place.” Not only will exposure to offensive Native imagery make you prejudiced, but it will happen, and you will not even know.  

Mascot imagery can cause trauma to Native students. More research tells us that offensive Native imagery is “psychologically detrimental to Native American students.” Need I say more?

Finally, why stop? Because it is embarrassing. This is what I hear from alumni, faculty, staff and students. It is embarrassing for the University, they say, to see all this offensive Native American imagery on campus and in the stands. 

Students even voted in 2020 on a new mascot, the Kingfisher. The University Senate voted to support it. And so far, no one has done research to show that having the Kingfisher as a mascot increases implicit bias, intensifies prejudice toward other people or causes psychological trauma. (I searched for peer-reviewed articles, but I did not find any.)

In 2005, then-President of the NCAA Myles Brand speculated that, “Decades from now, I predict, we will look back and wonder why we ever tolerated such behaviors,” regarding the use of offensive Native mascots and their imagery. 

However, more than 18 years have passed since we retired the Chief — why do we continue to tolerate people wearing its image on campus? Or on our social media? We are not only hurting others, but we are hurting ourselves. It is time to stop.

Rosalyn is a professor in LAS.

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