Mascot Ruling in Illinois Could Have National Implications

By Mark Conrad   During halftime at the University of Illinois football games, Chief Illiniwek, the longtime mascot of the team, performs a series of dances as accompaniment to songs dedicated to the team and the university. This practice began in 1926 and has enjoyed considerable popularity among fans of the Illini ever since. Despite the increasing criticism by many Native Americans of these practices in recent years, Chief Illiniwek performs and will continue to perform after an Illinois