I’m Class of ’47 when Gene Shalit was on the Daily Illini staff, so you do the math! How the icon of Chief Illiniwek ever became the issue it has I will never understand. Fortunately I was able to scan a photo of the 1947 Illiniwek, featured in the Illio yearbook, doing a spirited dance in war bonnet and beaded moccasins. I have it framed under my Illinois pennant. At that time, it was an honor for a young male student to represent the University of Illinois in this role, and the whole thing was taken very seriously. Incidentally, I do not recall Chief Illiniwek ever being called “mascot.” Whether the ideals behind the original idea were lost over the years I do not know, but nothing, nothing, will ever replace the thrill we spectators all got at game half-time when the Chief suddenly appeared from within the ranks of the Illinois band to do his dance. What went wrong?

Elinor Lynch

Palm Desert, CA