Mascot IssueSunday, March 24, 2002http://www.newsgazette.com/story.cfm?Number=11273Coach is no friend of Chief By FRED KRONER © 2002 THE NEWS-GAZETTE Published Online March 23, 2002 DANVILLE – Supporters of Chief Illiniwek will not find a friend in Rusty Gillette. Gillette, an American Indian, is the head coach of the United Tribes team that was one of the 12 qualifiers for the 17th NJCAA Division II men's basketball tournament at Danville Area Community College. He said Friday that the Illinois symbol and its representation are “truly offensive and degrading” and illustrated it with an example with which most people can relate. “If they changed the name to the Fighting Negroes and the Chief painted his face black, people would be outraged,” Gillette said. “The bottom line is, there is no fine line. “Eliminate it altogether.” Gillette said he is not speaking without knowledge. He said he watched videotape of a Chief Illiniwek halftime performance from earlier this season. “Tomahawks are not trinkets,” Gillette said. “Indians go through ceremonies to get these things, and they're not for running around like an idiot.” Gillette said he has not contacted anyone from the university while he has been in Danville this week, but the subject has come up when he has talked with different groups. “People say, ‘Why are you offended?' but the point is we are,” Gillette said. “There are better ways to get people to cheer, better ways to honor people and not use them as a mascot. “Some think it's just a name, but it's the way people look at native Americans. It's more than a logo. You could change the name and not lose one bit of enthusiasm for the school.” Gillette's comments came on the day United Tribes played Mitchell Community College in a tournament game at DACC. Mitchell's nickname is the Pequots, the name of a New England tribe of American Indians. posted by: Webmaster@ 10:10 AM
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