The University of Illinois mascot is a chief named Chief Illiniwek. The mascot was created in 1926 by a group of students who wanted to create a symbol that would represent the university’s fighting spirit. Chief Illiniwek is a symbol of strength, courage, and determination, and he has been a popular figure at Illinois sporting events for decades.
Chief Illiniwek has been a controversial figure throughout his history. Some people have argued that the mascot is offensive to Native Americans, and there have been several attempts to have him removed. However, Chief Illiniwek remains a popular figure on campus, and he is still used as the university’s mascot today. Besides Chief Illiniwek, the University of Illinois also has two official mascots, a male and female Siberian tiger named Alberta and Albert.