Post by blackcrowheart on Oct 3, 2007 14:13:47 GMT -5
Chief portrayers' lawsuit dismissed by county judge
Credit: Daily Illini File Photo
[Dan Maloney, one of students to portray the Cheif, performs for the
last time on Feb. 21, 2007. Maloney's lawsuit against the University was
dismisssed on Tuesday.] Media Credit: Daily Illini File Photo Dan
Maloney, one of students to portray the Cheif, performs for the last
time on Feb. 21, 2007. Maloney's lawsuit against the University was
dismisssed on Tuesday.
URBANA, Ill. - A judge on Tuesday dismissed a pair of lawsuits that
claimed the University of Illinois broke state law when it shelved its
American Indian mascot, Chief Illiniwek.
One of the lawsuits, filed by the two students who used to don the
costumes at men's basketball and football games, had also accused the
NCAA of coercing the university to drop Chief Illiniwek by imposing
sanctions against its athletic teams.
Champaign County Judge Michael Jones, an Illinois graduate, said the
university was within its rights when it decided in February to
eliminate the chief.
Tom Hardy, a spokesman for the University of Illinois, said it expected
and welcomed the decision.
"The judge carefully considered all of the arguments in this case and
found in favor of the university, as we expected he would, and we are
satisfied with today's ruling," he said.
NCAA spokesman Bob Williams said the judge's decision vindicates the
organization.
"In no way did we force the school to take the action," he said.
Dan Maloney, the last chief and a plaintiff in the February lawsuit also
filed by former assistant chief Logan Ponce, said he was disappointed.
But he said that he was glad he had challenged the university's
decision.
"One, I've done everything I can, and two, I know that I won't look back
on this time 20 years down the road and think, 'Why didn't I do this,
why didn't I do that?'" said the 24-year-old graduate student.
Maloney and Ponce have 30 days to appeal, but Maloney said he wasn't
sure what they will do.
Champaign attorney John Gadau, the plaintiff in the other lawsuit, did
not return a call to his office Tuesday.
The decision to eliminate the chief followed two decades of disagreement
about the mascot, played for 81 years by students who danced at football
and basketball games wearing buckskin and feathered headdresses.
Many American Indians and others said Chief Illiniwek was an insulting
caricature, while backers argued that the mascot honored American
Indians.
Credit: Daily Illini File Photo
[Dan Maloney, one of students to portray the Cheif, performs for the
last time on Feb. 21, 2007. Maloney's lawsuit against the University was
dismisssed on Tuesday.] Media Credit: Daily Illini File Photo Dan
Maloney, one of students to portray the Cheif, performs for the last
time on Feb. 21, 2007. Maloney's lawsuit against the University was
dismisssed on Tuesday.
URBANA, Ill. - A judge on Tuesday dismissed a pair of lawsuits that
claimed the University of Illinois broke state law when it shelved its
American Indian mascot, Chief Illiniwek.
One of the lawsuits, filed by the two students who used to don the
costumes at men's basketball and football games, had also accused the
NCAA of coercing the university to drop Chief Illiniwek by imposing
sanctions against its athletic teams.
Champaign County Judge Michael Jones, an Illinois graduate, said the
university was within its rights when it decided in February to
eliminate the chief.
Tom Hardy, a spokesman for the University of Illinois, said it expected
and welcomed the decision.
"The judge carefully considered all of the arguments in this case and
found in favor of the university, as we expected he would, and we are
satisfied with today's ruling," he said.
NCAA spokesman Bob Williams said the judge's decision vindicates the
organization.
"In no way did we force the school to take the action," he said.
Dan Maloney, the last chief and a plaintiff in the February lawsuit also
filed by former assistant chief Logan Ponce, said he was disappointed.
But he said that he was glad he had challenged the university's
decision.
"One, I've done everything I can, and two, I know that I won't look back
on this time 20 years down the road and think, 'Why didn't I do this,
why didn't I do that?'" said the 24-year-old graduate student.
Maloney and Ponce have 30 days to appeal, but Maloney said he wasn't
sure what they will do.
Champaign attorney John Gadau, the plaintiff in the other lawsuit, did
not return a call to his office Tuesday.
The decision to eliminate the chief followed two decades of disagreement
about the mascot, played for 81 years by students who danced at football
and basketball games wearing buckskin and feathered headdresses.
Many American Indians and others said Chief Illiniwek was an insulting
caricature, while backers argued that the mascot honored American
Indians.