University bans sports’ ‘war chant’

CHICAGO—The University of Illinois has ended a long tradition of playing what the program has called a “war chant” during sporting events, an athletic department spokesman confirmed Friday.

Many consider the drum music, which is tied to the theme of the university’s former mascot, a stereotypical Native American appropriation. The song has been played primarily during football games when opponents face third down.

Illinois decided to move on from the tradition, spokesman Kent Brown said, in an effort to be more “inclusive” and because students have not responded to it as much at football games.

As first reported by the NewsGazette, athletic department representatives asked members of the student group Illini Pride to stop playing the song during a soccer match Thursday.

Illinois has faced decades of criticism for its use of Native American imagery in sports.

The university’s board of trustees banned the Chief Illiniwek mascot in 2007, two years after an NCAA decision barring teams that use potentially offensive Native American imagery from hosting postseason play.

A group of former Chief portrayers and current students determined to maintain the tradition continue to wear a headdress, stereotypical Native American clothing and “war paint” on their faces at sporting events, although the university does not endorse this group.

Illinois said it has no plans to end the “Three-in-One” fight song that has been played since the early 1900s. When it is played at basketball games, some students cross their arms and bow their heads in another act of stereotypical Native American appropriation. Students also wear shirts, not sold by the university, that feature feathers or say “Bring back the Chief.”

In 2016, Illinois formed an ad hoc committee to explore adopting a new mascot. Athletic director Josh Whitman said this summer that a new mascot has not been chosen.