The University community reacted in large numbers this week to news that the Board of Trustees will be voting today on a resolution asking that Chief Illiniwek be removed as the University symbol.

Various University offices have been taking continuous calls from people with thoughts on the resolution — many of them from angry alumni.

"We've had a substantial reaction to the news of the pending resolution," said Tom Hardy, University spokesman. "It's fair to say that the majority (of the callers) favor the retention of the Chief."

Close to 300 Chief supporters — including students, alumni and others — attended a vigil held Wednesday night organized by the Students for Chief Illiniwek.

Dan Bolin, president of Students for Chief Illiniwek, said he was up most of the night before the vigil answering e-mails from people wanting to get involved.

"People are coming out of the woodwork," Bolin said. "It's all the people who love the symbol and the University — and the two together."

The resolution, which is on the agenda for the board meeting today, would retire the Chief as a University symbol, but retain the name Fighting Illini for University athletic teams.

The board office alone received 1,152 phone calls and 850 e-mails and faxes concerning Chief Illiniwek, according to Michele Thompson, secretary of the board. Thompson said the opinions will be relayed to the trustees before today's meeting.

She said most of the calls to the trustees have been pro-Chief.

Both Hardy and Vanessa Faurie, spokeswoman for the alumni association, said there have been callers who said they would stop giving donations if the Chief goes.

"That would be an unfortunate, but not unexpected, impact of a decision to honorably retire the Chief," Hardy said. "(The hope is that) over time they'll come to understand and appreciate that it's the core educational experience ... for which they show their appreciation."

In similar situations involving mascots at other universities, Hardy said schools have seen slight downturns in the amount of donations received, but he said in most instances the donations rebounded.

Roger Huddleston, founder of the Honor the Chief Society, said the group is not encouraging members to restrict donations if the Chief is retired.

"I have had a number of people suggest it, but we're not sanctioning that in any way," Huddleston said. "We're not into blackmail, we're into issues."

Both supporters and opponents of the Chief have said they will attend the meeting today to persuade undecided board members.

While a number of the calls from alumni and University supporters have been pro-Chief, Faurie said the alumni association office has also taken some calls from alumni who support removing the Chief as the University mascot.