Two schools of thought on Chief Illiniwek: If you went to the University of Illinois, you want to keep the Chief. You want him to do his dance at Assembly Hall; you want him in your heart forever and ever and ever. He is the very fabric of your school’s identity — give us our Chief, or we’ll try to change state law to get him back.

Then there’s the detached approach, those that see a white male — a possible descendant of Native Americans’ oppressors — parading around in their garb, attaching himself to cultural stereotypes. It’s insensitive. Maybe sort of irrational and silly too.

People: you still have the Fighting Illini as your team name. Just because some dude isn’t doing a dance, I think we’ll all be OK. Or not.

Since the University of Illinois Board of Trustees banned the 80-year-old mascot from sporting events in February 2007, citing cultural insensitivity, defenders of Chief Illiniwek have been working toward a resurrection.

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On Saturday, the new mascot decked out in new duds will make his debut after the U. of I. football team plays Ohio State at Champaign-Urbana.

The student group paid $4,500 to rent Assembly Hall on campus, where Chief Illiniwek will perform his traditional dance—free for students, $5 for the public. Roberto Martell, president of Students for Chief Illiniwek, said the group encountered no resistance from the administration. Tom Hardy, a university spokesman, said the students will be allowed to hold the event and that it is not sponsored by the university.

“Chief Illiniwek is a big priority,” said Martell, a 20-year-old junior. “It inspired me to be a complete man.”

I’d like to come out and formally admit that the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slug has also inspired me “to be a complete man.” Me and Mr. Martell have more in common than I previously thought!