Then, she created designs for a new mascot, which went viral on Reddit ... Wilken-Hulsey initially anticipated receiving pushback from alumni who favored the Chief as the Illini’s mascot. Despite this ...

Students and Champaign-Urbana community members gathered at Siebel Center for Design on Thursday to witness the reveal of a new costume design for the Kingfisher, an unofficial University mascot.

Illinois had a mascot for over 80 years, Chief Illiniwek, before disbanding the practice and “retiring” its mascot in 2007.