University of Illinois chairman speaks against NCAA on Illini, Chief issue

Great article in today's Chicago Tribune (free registration required). Tough to excerpt, but so it's worth a visit to the Tribune web site.

The chairman of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees , Lawrence Eppley discusses the Illini nickname and Chief Illiniwek issues.

Says Epley:

"It is noteworthy that the NCAA's edict as it pertains to the University of Illinois directly contradicts a 1995 finding by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights . . . that the existence of the Chief did not constitute a `racially hostile environment at the University.'

`Illini' is an appellation proudly carried not only by our student-athletes, but also by tens of thousands . . . who positively associate themselves with our university."