Chief Illiniwek was the mascot of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), associated with the university's intercollegiate athletic programs, from October 30, 1926, to February 21, 2007. Chief Illiniwek was portrayed by a student to represent the Illiniwek, the state's namesake, although the regalia worn was from the Sioux. The student portraying Chief Illiniwek performed during halftime of Illinois football and basketballgames, as well as during women's volleyball matches. Since the 1970s, Chief Illiniwek had been the center of a controversy between fans and alumni who view the mascot as part of the UIUC tradition; while Native American individuals and organizations, social scientists, and educators view such mascots as cultural appropriation of indigenous images and rituals, which perpetuate stereotypes about American Indian peoples. In 2005, Chief Illiniwek was one of 19 mascots cited as "hostile or abusive" by the NCAA in a policythat banned schools from full participation in postseason activities as long as they continued to use such mascots. The University of Illinois retired Chief Illiniwek in 2007, with his last official performance on February 21, 2007. UIUC has not selected a replacement. Some student groups have put forth a few non-binding resolutions, but as of December 2022, some alumni and members of the public are opposed to the new mascot, and several online petitionscontinue to advocate for the return of Chief Illiniwek. Supporters of Chief Illiniwek sometimes object to the use of the term "mascot", and instead refer to the Chief as a "symbol" of the university.