The Chief will dance again - unofficially

A 22-year-old Campton Hills man will revive his portrayal of the University of Illinois' banished mascot, Chief Illiniwek, and make a rare appearance this weekend after almost two years of silence.

Chief Illiniwek, portrayed by University of Illinois senior Logan Ponce, is scheduled to perform today for the first time since the university banned the 80-year-old tradition, citing cultural insensitivity, in February 2007.

The unofficial mascot is being featured in a presentation at the university's Assembly Hall after a football game against Ohio State University in an event that is not sanctioned by the university.

Lalo Ponce, Logan's father and an assistant superintendent for the Elgin U-46 School District, said that despite the controversies, the family is proud of Logan and proud of the Illiniwek tradition. Lalo and his wife, Linda, planned to be in attendance.

"He is proud to represent the tradition," Lalo Ponce said. "People can be opposed to just about any figure that represents a team or a school. And the students have voted in favor of the tradition of Chief Illiniwek."

Ponce said that when Logan was 6 and the family was new to Illinois (they moved to Campton Township and live in what is now the village of Campton Hills) he went with his parents to a basketball game at the University of Illinois and saw Chief Illiniwek dance.

"He was really excited," Ponce said.

Logan ran track at the University of Illinois as a freshman but gave it up to audition to be Chief Illiniwek. Logan portrayed the Chief during 2006, and was the last person to make an official appearance during a 2006 football game.

"He got interested because of his athleticism, and because he has always held representing the Chief in high esteem," Lalo Ponce said. "While the Chief might not dance at athletic contests for a while, the spirit of the Illini tradition will always be there."

The Students for Chief Illiniwek, a registered student group, is sponsoring the event. The organization is renting Assembly Hall from the university for $4,500, plus expenses, university spokesman Tom Hardy said. Admission is free for students and $5 for the public.

"They're a registered student organization and they have certain rights and privileges to be able to use university facilities - and that's the case here," Hardy said Thursday. "The university does not support the event."

Organizers could not be reached for comment. Visit honorthechief.com for details.