Illini 411: What year did Illinois start using Homecoming themes?
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
Memory Lane: Film lover’s Delight
In our push-of-a-button, tap-it-and-stream-it world of today, it’s easy to forget that not so long ago, a movie night meant getting off your couch, going to the local video rental
Memory Lane: Getting Squirrely
You know the feeling: You’re sitting on a bench outside the Illini Union, minding your own business, eating a sandwich, when all of a sudden, you detect a presence. And
My Alma Mater: Around the GLOBE
When I enrolled at the U of I in 2016—a fresh-faced international student from Costa Rica—it was the beginning of a transformative journey that made me feel like I truly
Illini 411: Where are the Mortar Board tablets that used to hang in the Illini Union?
A: They’re in the University Archives—kind of. Given the tablets’ size and number, the Archives could not keep them all, according to Student Life & Culture Archivist Ellen Swain, MS
Illini 411: Does Def Leppard hold Assembly Hall’s attendance record?
The 1988 Def Leppard show was a big one—16,606—and lead singer Joe Elliott announced from the stage that it had broken Elvis Presley’s all-time attendance record. Only—dramatic pause!—it hadn’t. Whether
Living Monument
From its agricultural and engineering roots, John Milton Gregory had a profound vision for what the U of I should become—a full-fledged university offering courses in every field and grounded
Illini 411: Who are the oldest living alumni?
A: According to our records, at of March 2024 the oldest alumni are Mabel Craf, ’30 ED (109), of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; followed by Otto Klein, ’37 ACES (108), of
Great Sport Moments: Indiana Upset
For a University of Illinois men’s basketball player, beating IU is always a priority. But when the Hoosiers are ranked No. 1 in the nation, the importance of an Illinois
Memory Lane: Coffee Talk
It’s wintertime at the U of I—snow falling on Altgeld Hall, the Quad’s sidewalks slick with ice, the air so brisk even the Alma Mater looks cold—and just off campus,
