Story by Phil Davidson of The Daily Iowan:

Adhering to a policy instituted 10 years ago, but not
always followed, the UI athletics department recently
canceled a baseball game with Bradley University of
Peoria, Ill., because of the school's mascot.

The game was originally scheduled to be played today,
but the athletics department canceled the
nonconference game in February, recognizing that
Bradley's nickname--the Braves--falls under the
university's policy to not schedule nonconference
games with teams that have American Indian mascots.

Steve Roe, a UI associate director of Sports
Information, said the university's Board in Control of
Athletics implemented the policy in April 1994 in a
response to those who were outraged by the
stereotypical portrayal of American Indians in sports.

According to the policy, "In recognition of the UI
policy on human rights, the university bans from its
athletics facilities any mascot that depicts or
represents Native Americans."

Though Bradley got rid of its mascot in 1989, Parker
said, the UI did not have much choice in the matter,
adding that University of Wisconsin-Madison is the
only other school that won't schedule games against
Bradley.

At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
which is not held to the UI's policy because of
contract and Big Ten conference obligations, results
from a March poll show that 13,000 students--69
percent--voted in favor of keeping the school's
controversial Chief Illiniwek mascot.

However, last week, Illinois Senate President Emil
Jones, D-Chicago, said he would consider blocking
state funding to the university if Chief Illiniwek is
not retired.

--END--

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