Chief Illiniwek: understanding the controversial discourse and the politics of power

Prominent discourses surrounding the Chief Illiniwek mascot controversy on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus, between the years of 2000-2007, will be examined using textual analysis. Utilizing Tribal Critical Race Theory as a guiding framework for the analysis, various materials have been collected (websites, newspapers, testimonials, and personal experience), and subsequently analyzed. The aim of this project is to uncover how these discourses were being framed, who supported them, how students of color experienced their campus racial climate during this controversy, and lastly how the university played a role in perpetuating the use of stereotypical imagery on campus. Suggestions and recommendations that the university should take into consideration in order to effectively address the Chief Illiniwek mascot issue are also presented as concluding remarks.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Policy Studies

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Morales, Socorro E.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Anderson, James D.

• Chief Illiniwek
• Tribal Critical Race Theory
• Critical Race Theory
• Native American sports mascots

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2011 Socorro Morales

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/26143

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/26143