U. of Illinois Dodges Vote on Mascot

By DON BABWIN
.c The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) - The University of Illinois board of trustees dodged a vote on retiring the Chief Illiniwek mascot Thursday, instead urging supporters and critics to reach a ``consensus conclusion.''

The much-debated American Indian mascot has divided the school for years, with supporters arguing the Chief is an honored symbol and others saying the mascot is racially offensive.

Board chairman Lawrence C. Eppley said Thursday's decision gives the board a chance to come up with a solution that does not simply accept one side and reject the other.

Passing on an 9-1 vote, the resolution does not define the term ``consensus conclusion,'' but says it would provide the university ``the opportunity to resolve the Chief Illiniwek issue in a manner that is in the very best interest of the university and not of any particular constituency or interest group.''

Some mascot opponents were outraged, however.

``Your duty is to bring respect for minorities, not exploit them,'' Kim Cook, an American Indian, told the board.

Finding a compromise will be difficult. Former trustee Roger Plummer tried but said in a 2002 report that ``after nine months of reviewing options presented for a `compromise' resolution, including many unsolicited recommendations, it is abundantly clear that there is no `compromise' available.''

In April, protesters took over the campus administration building to demand the Chief's ouster, refusing to leave until they were guaranteed meetings with top state lawmakers.

On the Net:

University of Illinois Board of Trustees: http://www.uillinois.edu

(SUBS 4th graf to correct vote was 9-1, sted 8-1.)



06/17/04 20:24 EDT