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 Tradition makes saying goodbye difficult 

   By Jeff Armstrong
   IV Leader Staff, Mar 15, 2007

    A tradition is something very special to a group or family, especially when it has been going on for over 81 years.
    Whether it’s a holiday or an anniversary, tradition is one of the few pure things left in this world. But no tradition is known better in Illinois college sports than Chief Illiniwek’s halftime dance. And on Wednesday Feb. 21, Chief Illiniwek preformed his final dance.
    What also made the night special was not only was it his final dance, but it was the senior’s last home game against the University of Michigan.
    The Fighting Illini won and Senior Warren Carter scored 14 points to lead the team in his final game at Assembly Hall, but that wasn’t the only reason why 16,000 came to the game.
    No offense, Illini basketball team. Before the game, Orange Krush members passed out black shirts outside while they waited for hours to be let in.
    As Chief Illiniwek took the floor for the last time, a video montage of chiefs past played on video screens above the court.
    After the halftime dance, hundreds of students and others in the normally orange-filled arena shed their shirts to reveal black T-shirts worn underneath, mourning the loss of the chief.
    “I feel like a big part of the Illinois tradition has been taken away,” said Orange Krush member Pat Sanchez. “Along with many of my colleagues, the Chief was a very enjoyable part of football and basketball games, and it's too bad that people have to put such a big spotlight on the Chief when there are more important issues to be dealt with.”
    Chief Illiniwek came dancing out of the tunnel as usual and did his same dance routine. Once he was done he walked out with his hands folded over, Indian style, and left with the crowd in a standing ovation.
    But the Chief wasn’t ready to say goodbye just like that. He then walked back out, welcomed with cheers, and bowed goodbye to the fans .
    The decision by the university's board of trustees came after two decades of protests stating Chief Illiniwek portrayed a degrading image of American Indians, rather than instilling pride in the university.
    "To me the chief is spirit," said Paul Bruns, a retiree who worked for the university for 38 years. "Why did (American Indians) dance? They danced for spirit."

 

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