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

The referendum asked voters whether they support adopting “a mascot to represent the University for use at Illinois Athletic and other relevant events” — not the Kingfisher, specifically. This article ...

Maurice West, D-Rockford, has tried to pass the Native mascot ban. When West tried in 2020, members of the Native American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois asked him to push for teaching Native ...