The debate over American Indian mascots and imagery has ceased being a simple matter for philosophical debate at two institutions where the stakes are creeping ever higher.

In December, alumnus Ralph Engelstad threatened to cease construction of the hockey arena into which he had already invested $35 million. Engelstad also threatened to disconnect the heat to the construction site. The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) subsequently voted to affirm the name Fighting Sioux and a related logo.

Call for civility

In the months since the board's decision, animosities on the North Dakota campus have continued to rise, with threats made against American Indian students.

Kupchella issued a public statement last month asking for civility and warning that "behavior that violates local, state and/or national law will not be tolerated."

The matter is still under litigation, with Illinois contending that NCAA recruiting regulations limit contact and that violating the regulations could subject the university to NCAA violations. A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order barring the university from enforcing the policy until a hearing in June. In the meantime, the group plans to contact as many potential student-athletes as possible.

Wallace I. Renfro, NCAA director of public relations, pointed out that this is a case of first impression for the Association.

"Although it is a violation in certain circumstances for individuals other than a school's coaching staff to contact prospects, NCAA bylaws governing such contacts exist to eliminate recruiting advantages. It is difficult to know what the consequences would be for an institution for violations that result in a recruiting disadvantage," Renfro said.

"Having said that, the NCAA would note that it is never the intent of Association legislation to supersede constitutionally guaranteed rights nor to force member institutions to choose between NCAA bylaws and such rights."

Cyd Crue, president of the Illinois chapter of the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and the Media and a graduate student at Illinois, and Stephen J. Kaufman, a biology professor at the University of Illinois and anti-chief activist, plan to contact recruits immediately.

"We plan to send a packet of information containing a letter in which we explain about the mascot and what it means to us in terms of a racist symbol," Crue said. "They need to know what they are getting into here and what they will be representing when they wear the 'Fighting Illini' uniform. I feel like it's our moral imperative to educate them, then students can make their own decisions. It's not 'anti-recruiting'; it's the dissemination of information the university won't tell them before they come.

She noted that the packets will include an NAACP statement opposing the mascot, as well as statements from church organizations, the Native American Bar Association and psychological groups.

"Here at the University of Illinois, the problem is the Board of Trustees. And they need to see that, because of their 'traditions,' the department of athletics is suffering, the university is suffering. Our native children are suffering. They are mocked because they do not look like 'our' Chief Illiniwek. That's what this is all about, and that's why we're not going to let the issue drop. We don't have to have a 'little Red Sambo' anymore."