Well, after having seen my alma matter retire Chief Illiniwek, it was with some interest that I encountered this story in the Memphis Commercial Appeal:
A Choctaw activist told Tennessee lawmakers on Tuesday that legislation that would prevent the state from ever banning Indian mascots at schools is disrespectful and unconstitutional.[.]
The bill sponsored by Sen. Dewayne Bunch, R-Cleveland, specifies that no state agency would have the authority to prohibit public or private institutions from continuing to use Indians for symbols, names and mascots.
The article doesn’t discuss why the proposed measure would be unconstitutional, although I do wonder why Native American mascots are singled out for special attention, as opposed to mascots like that of my high school (the Spartans).