University Of Illinois Has Gotten Rid Of The 'War Chant'

By Stephen Gossett in News on Aug 25, 2017 5:58PM

Getty Images / Photo: Jonathan Daniel

The University of Illinois has long been one of many focal points in the controversy of insensitive appropriation of Native American culture by athletics. In further efforts to rid themselves of that legacy, the so-called "war chant" will not be played at university sporting events.

According to the News-Gazette, an athletic department representative told students at a soccer match on Thursday to stop playing the drum "chant"—a UI tradition that has been criticized for being a part of the university's caricaturing of Native Americans. Spokesperson Kent Brown told the Tribune the university has ended the practice. He said the choice was made in order to be more inclusive and because crowds haven't been responding to it like they used to, according to the AP.

The school’s controversial former mascot and logo Chief Illiniwek was nixed by the university in 2007 after the NCAA ruled it would sanction team that use potentially offensive Native American imagery. Protests against the mascot dated back to at least 1988, although the school's Board of Trustees initially resisted removing Illiniwek.

The "war chant" was typically played during third downs at football games.

The University of Illinois isn't the only sports team in the state to come under fire for Native American appropriation. Recall the push for the Chicago Blackhawks do adopt this "culturally appropriate" logo.