Native American Mascots Draw Sports Regulators' Ire

So far, Illinois' administrators have declined to retire Chief Illiniwek. After all, they say, the Oglalla Sioux tribe sold them the mascot costume, so it can't be that degrading.

That was 25 years ago, however, and now the Sioux want the outfit back. Some Native Americans have told interviewers that Illiniwek is harmless, but others find a white guy leaping around in an Indian headdress offensive and degrading.

To confuse matters, some colleges have been allowed to keep their Native American mascots and nicknames -- "the Seminoles" at Florida State University, to name one. So it's not at all clear how much longer Chief Illiniwek will be "playing Indian" at the University of Illinois

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