Illini 411: How did the “Dairy Queen in Altgeld Hall” rumor start?
Question courtesy of Rachel Thompson, ’19 LAS
Question courtesy of Rachel Thompson, ’19 LAS
A: Ever since its construction in the 1890s, jokes have abounded about Altgeld’s labyrinthine design and the treasures that undoubtedly lie within. In the early 2010s, students on Reddit began posting about a DQ in the basement, and the rumor took on a life of its own, becoming so popular that in 2024 the Illini Union Board even hosted a DQ pop-up store at Altgeld, boasting an inventory of more than 800 Dilly Bars. But I think the real question is this: Will a permanent DQ be installed as part of Altgeld’s renovation? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see!
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