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Draft:The Belted Kingfisher (Mascot)

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The Belted Kingfisher is a proposed mascot for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).[1] It was originally designed by University of Illinois student Spencer Hulsey[2] as a potential replacement to the university's previous mascot, Chief Illiniwek, which was retired in 2007 after the NCAA included it a list of 19 mascots that were cited as "hostile or abusive".[3] Hulsey, in large part, chose it because the female Belted Kingfisher shares UIUC's school colors, orange and blue, and is native to Champaign County.[4]

In early 2023, a group of students created a Belted Kingfisher costume, and has started attending university events as an unofficial school mascot.[5]

Votes and endorsements

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While the university has made no move to officially endorse a new mascot, the Belted Kingfisher has been the subject of several non-binding votes. In 2020, it received a majority of student votes as a possible new mascot.[6] It was also overwhelmingly endorsed by the University Senate, voting 105 to 2 in favor with 4 abstaining.[7]

The kingfisher mascot proposal has also been endorsed by several Native American organizations, including the Native American Rights Fund.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Kingfisher: The Belted Kingfisher". LibGuides. University Library. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  2. ^ Simmons, Ethan (October 24, 2019). "Kingfisher design reignites mascot debate". The Daily Illini. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b Campbell, Matthew. "Retired Illinois Mascot Still Causing Harm". narf.org. Native American Rights Fund. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  4. ^ Lund, Nicholas. "The University of Illinois Might Make a Kingfisher Its New Mascot. It should!". audubon.org. Audubon Magazine. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  5. ^ Zimmerman, Bradley (Aug 18, 2023). "Kingfisher mascot makes first appearance on U of I campus". WCIA. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  6. ^ Keilman, John (March 10, 2020). "Could the belted kingfisher, an orange and blue predatory bird, become the University of Illinois' new mascot?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  7. ^ Majid, Aliza (September 22, 2020). "University Senate endorses kingfisher mascot in landslide vote". The Daily Illini. Retrieved 28 August 2024.