The Random Rant
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The truth is always best
As a journalist and a graduate from the University of Illinois, I was saddened this week when I read the New York Times’ recent article on Chief Illiniwek. Not only was I saddened because this great establishment of written journalism wrote a story leaning heavily in favor of one point of view in a controversial topic and tried to pass it off as unbiased, I was also saddened by the lack of regards for facts and reporting in the story.
I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I believe both sides of the controversy have brought up very good points in favor of and in opposition to Chief Illiniwek. I also believe both have brought up ridiculous arguments that are not based in reality. If the New York Times wishes to write an editorial in opposition to or in favor of Illiniwek, they have that right. However, to write a supposedly unbiased article and favor it towards one side of the argument with shoddy reporting and misrepresentation of facts is inexcusable. After the recent scandal with Jason Blair, I would have expected a closer scrutiny of reporting from the Times. However, the reporter, Mike Wise, misrepresented facts in favor of one side of the argument.
Following is a list of inaccurate descriptions of Chief Illiniwek and important omissions in the arguments:
1. “He is a student dressed in Hollywood-style regalia, created 77 years ago by an assistant band director at the University of Illinois.” –Mike Wise, N.Y. Times
For a response to this erroneous statement, I have listed below the following, which is an excerpt of Louis B. Garippo’s “The Chief Illiniwek Dialogue Report” was presented to the Board of Trustees in November of 2000.
In September of 1982, the present regalia was presented to the University. The current rawhide outfit had been sewn by the wife of Frank Fools Crow, the elderly chief of the Ogala Sioux tribe of South Dakota. At halftime of a football game, after having been flown in from South Dakota on the private plane of a local businessman, Fool's Crow made the presentation.
2. “‘It’s likely a Boy Scout dance at best.’”—Lawrence Eppley, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Wise, who does a great job of refuting other claims in the article, does not offer an explanation of the history of the dance. I have included below another excerpt from the “The Chief Illiniwek Dialogue Report.” This is a description of the dance as detailed by former Chief Illiniwek John Madigan:
Fancy dancing
The halftime performance of the University of Illinois' Chief Illiniwek takes its movements from the Native American style of dancing called "fancy dancing" or "fancy feather dancing," which is considered the brightest and fastest of Native American dance styles.
Fancy dancing did not originate from any old dance or style. Fancy dancing originated as a method of entertaining visitors at reservations in the early 1920's and to display aspects of Native culture that were not restricted for ceremonial use. The outfit combined the popular bustles of traditional dancers and made them larger, brighter, and more exciting and added feathers, fluffs, and colors wherever they would fit. Today, fancy dancers' regalia contains very intricate feather patterns and colors, including neon colors and other eye-catching patterns. Fancy dancing belongs to no one tribe - it started in Oklahoma and is now all over the country, with some differences in dress and style in the North.
Fancy Dancers dance much faster than all other styles, and it is sometimes freestyle, with dancers doing such wild things as the splits and back flips. Many fancy dancers feel that these movements are necessary to win the top prizes and cash awards at fancy dancing competitions. These movements may be less common due to the level of skill required to perform them.
The dance style is of two types: a basic simple step while dancing around the drum and a "contest" step with fast and intricate footwork combined with a spinning up and down movement of the body.
. . . many powwows or grounds where fancy dancing competitions are held are athletic fields or similar venues. Fancy dancing troupes travel in the Southwest to perform shows for tourists and visitors.
3. "‘I’m a Native American,” said Gadaut, who is white. ‘I was born and bred in Illinois.’”—John Gadaut, Champaign lawyer
Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Gadaut. (Therefore this section of my argument is not as solid as my previous statements. At least I am informing you of inaccurate information, unlike Mike Wise.) However, I have heard from others in the Champaign-Urbana area that Mr. Gadaut is a descendant of Native Americans. Wise does not attempt to justify his claim or elaborate on it. He just adds that Mr. Gadaut is white. By phrasing the sentence in this manner, Wise makes it seem as if Gadaut is just an idiot who is claiming that he is native because he was born here, when that is not the case.
4. My final argument is what I believe to be a major omission on the part of the reporter. He does not mention at any point in the article that when a student is appointed as Chief Illiniwek, they are required to spend a week on the Shoshone-Bannock Reservation in Idaho. I feel this piece of information should be included because many arguments against the Chief is that he, and therefore those who portray him, is racist.
These are just four mistakes I felt necessary to justify from this article. It was full of other omissions and misrepresentations, but I did not feel the need to point them all out, mostly because of time and space concerns. Mike Wise either is a reporter who failed to do accurate reporting, or he is a journalist who let his biases get the best of him. Either way, he should be held accountable for spreading misinformation to the public.
For more information on Chief Illiniwek, you may read “The Chief Illiniwek Dialogue Report” here.
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