'War Chant' At University Of Illinois Banned: Overreaction Or Overdue? (POLL)

CHAMPAIGN, IL — A decade after dropping its Native American mascot that many found offensive, the University of Illinois has now retired the "war chant" music played during school sporting events, according to the News-Gazette in Champaign. The decision to drop the "Fighting Illini War Chant" song is part of the university's push to create a more inclusive atmosphere at games, athletics department spokesman Kent Brown told the News-Gazette. He also said the video board at the football team's Memorial Stadium was generating more enthusiastic reactions from fans than the chant, which was routinely played to cheer on the team on third downs.

University administration, the athletics department and the Marching Illini, Illinois' marching band, were all included in reaching the decision to silence the "war chant," according to the Daily Illini, the school's student paper. While the move was made at the end of the previous football season, it didn't become public knowledge until university officials told the Illini Pride student group to stop performing the music at a soccer game Thursday, the News-Gazette reports. So far, the chancellor's office has made no announcement about dropping the song, but an official statement addressing the decision is expected next week, according to the Illini.

While it can ban official school organizations from using the song, the university can't stop fans from performing the "war chant" from the stands, Brown told the News-Gazette. He added that the decision over the chant does not affect the "Three-In-One" fight song, which also has come under fire because of its association with Chief Illiniwek, the school's former mascot that was the focal point of much debate and controversy for decades concerning the school's misappropriation of the indigenous cultures around the state. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Champaign. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

WATCH: The Marching Illini band performs the "Fighting Illini War Chant" in front of the University of Illinois football team:

Ending the tradition of the university's "war chant" song comes 10 years after the "retirement" of Chief Illiniwek, the university's Native American mascot that took its name from the confederation of tribes in the area and wore Lakota regalia and dress. Illiniwek was adopted as the school's symbol in 1926, but starting in the late 20th century, the university faced continued pressure to drop the mascot.

By the turn of the century, opposition to "The Chief" from the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma — the nearest Illiniwek Confederacy descendants — and NCAA regulations stopping schools from using "hostile and abusive" Native American nicknames and mascots forced the university to drop the symbol. A student dressed as Chief Illiniwek was last officially sanctioned by the university in February of 2007, dancing to the "Three-In-One" song during a men's basketball game. Although some students still dress as the mascot, these appearances are not endorsed by the school.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Do you agree with the decision by University of Illinois officials to ban the "Fighting Illini War Chant?" Is it a long-overdue step by the school to continue to distance itself from a past that inappropriately used Native American culture and symbols? Or is it another example of political correctness going too far by eliminating a school tradition? Take Patch's poll on the topic, and share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.

Image via University of Illinois