Campus Events 1990-1981

CAMPUS EVENTS: 1990 - 1981

1990

Illinois defeated Virginia in the Citrus Bowl, 31-21, ending a 26-year bowl victory drought.
Students for the Chief formed.
Trustees voted 7-1 to retain Chief Illiniwek as the symbol of the University of Illinois.
Students filed 19 complaints of harassment after police attempted to break up a rally of mostly African-American students.
Catalyst, an international student environmental conference, held on campus, attracted more than 7,000.
Committee against the War in the Gulf organized.
African-American students stood up in classrooms to protest University in wake of recent racial incidents.

Outside a residence hall, 1980s

1989

The “Flying Illini” men’s basketball team reached the Final Four, lost to Michigan 83-81.
The men’s gymnastics team won the national championship.
Illinois Quarterly magazine debuted.
Renovation of Busey-Evans completed.
Interfraternity Council passed rule forbidding fraternities from purchasing kegs.
Arson fire destroyed Memorial Stadium turf.
Illini students, including graduate student Charlene Teters, began protesting Chief Illiniwek.
Fire caused $125,000 in damages to Florida Avenue Residence Hall.

1988

Ice Arena re-opened after a renovation costing $27 million.
University imposed sanctions on Acacia fraternity for incident occurring at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Daily Illini offices moved from Illini Hall to building at 57 East Green Street.
Mike White resigned as football coach and Neale Stoner quit as athletic director after an NCAA probe into alleged infractions. John Mackovic was named head coach and athletic director.
Illinois played in All-American Bowl, lost to Florida 14-10.

Student in class, 1987

1987

Board of Trustees voted in favor of divestiture.
Illini Student Federal Credit Union formed.
McKinley Health Center introduced new hours and services.
Computer fee instituted.
Six buildings were entered on the National Register of Historic Places: the Observatory, Harker Hall, the Natural History Building, Altgeld Hall, Kenney Gym, Kenney Annex, and the Aeronautical Lab B.

1986

Renovation of McKinley Health Center began.
“Taste on the South Quad” held.
Students erected shantytowns on the Quad in divestiture campaign. Sixty were arrested during a pro-divestiture protest at a Board of Trustees meeting.
Installation of telecommunication lines and underground irrigation systems on the Quad created what the Illio called “The Year Without a Quad.”

1985

The renamed Foellinger Auditorium re-opened after undergoing extensive renovation.
The first supercomputer at the University was installed.
Arnold and Mabel Beckman gave the University $40 million to establish an interdisciplinary research institute.
The first Farm Aid concert was held at Memorial Stadium.
Halloween celebration led to vandalism and injuries. Twenty people were arrested.
Fire damaged Acacia fraternity house.
Students protested University investment in companies doing business with South Africa.
New student ID cards introduced.
Hundreds flocked to the University Observatory to obtain glimpse of Comet Halley.
Illinois played in Peach Bowl, lost to Army 31-29.

The crowd at Farm Aid 1, Sept 22, 1985

1984

Move-in day, 1983

1983

Board of Trustees passed rule requiring students to live in certified housing for 30 semester hours, instead of the 60 semester hours previously required.
The Ms. Kids won the national wheelchair basketball title.
Agricultural Engineering Sciences Building and Swanlund Administration Building completed.
Illini football team had a record-breaking 9-0 season in the Big Ten.

Quad Day, circa 1982

1982

The Chicago Circle and the Medical Center merged to become the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Athletic Director Neale Stoner instituted Tailgreat ‘82, a pre-game event to spark enthusiasm for the football team.
Fire caused approximately $200,000 in damages to Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity.
Students protested elimination of African-American programming from WPGU-FM. In partial response, African-American-operated WBML-FM was launched.
First day of the spring semester’s New Student Week saw temperatures of 26 degrees below zero, with wind chills estimated at 81 below zero.
Some 500 students protested killings of Palestinians in Beirut.
English Building received a major renovation.
Rubik’s Cube and the Sony Walkman hit campus.
Referee Richard McVay died of heart attack on Memorial Stadium field during game against Michigan State.
Illinois played in Liberty Bowl, lost to Alabama 21-15.

Beckwith Hall residents and rehabilitation staff at the dedication ceremony in 1982.

1981

Preppie fashion fad swept campus.
Beckwith Living Center opened.
Fire caused some $300,000 in damages to Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
MTV was launched on August 1st, quickly became a sensation with college students across the country.

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