URBANA, Ill., April 28 (UPI) -- The NCAA Friday upheld restrictions on the use of Indian mascots, a decision that could keep championship events away from the University of Illinois.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association policy does not force universities to drop Native American nicknames or mascots but "preserves the sanctity of NCAA championship sites by precluding them from hosting championship events," said NCAA Executive Committee Chairman Walter Harrison.
The Urbana/Champaign News-Gazette said the decision means the University of Illinois -- which has had the dancing, headdress-wearing Chief Illiniwek as the school's athletic team mascot for 80 years -- will not be allowed to participate in NCAA championships unless it drops all Native American images from uniforms and all Indian imagery and symbols.
The NCAA issued a list of 18 schools last year -- including Illinois -- whose Native American mascots would be prohibited from serving as host of post-season competitions. Illinois appealed and the NCAA ruled the names "Illini" and "Fighting Illini" could be used, but Chief Illiniwek could not.
