A: Actually, the U. of I. was originally called the Illinois Industrial University—a reflection of its land-grant roots as an agriculture and engineering school. The I.I.U. changed its name to
A: In the university’s early years, a full-service, horse-drawn streetcar connected Champaign and Urbana, and ran right through the heart of campus. By 1890, it had evolved into an electric
A: For many years, wassail was a speciality of Etc. Coffeehouse, the cozy hangout spot inside the Late Gothic Revival, decidedly medieval-looking Wesley Foundation, at the corner of Green and
A: A torrential downpour? Melting snow and ice? No sweat. All nine miles of the underground steam tunnels, which connect many of the campus’ buildings and have been used as
A: For decades, Illinois’ Office of Strategic Communications (formerly known as Public Affairs) has created clever, inspirational TV spots to promote the university and show off the campus during Illini
A: A wintertime zip down Hackberry Hill is one heck of a good time, and like most of the finer things in this world, the hill’s origins are mysterious and
A: Enough to fill a pickup basketball team—which would no doubt please former president Barack Obama, who gave a post-presidency speech at Foellinger Auditorium, in 2018. Two presidents visited the
A: The iconic cheer, in which one side of the Memorial Stadium crowd yells “I-L-L” and the other responds “I-N-I,” has been a mainstay of Illini football games since the
A: As far as I can tell, it was 1919. The theme was “Victory Homecoming”—a commemoration of the United States’ victory in World War I—and the event was a return
A: Believe it or not, that sycamore is the oldest tree on campus. When the University opened in 1868, it consisted of nothing more than the original building, 10 marshy
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