After a banishment of nearly two years, Chief Illiniwek once again is putting on the buckskins, beads and turkey feathers.
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.
Last spring, a group of former chiefs held tryouts to select a new performer. One dozen students tried out--undergoing nearly eight weeks of training--before the honor was bestowed on then-junior Logan Ponce.
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