An alumna from the University of Illinois told university officials that they need to form closer ties with the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma and reinvest in the university’s former mascot. The alumna told reporters that the university should ask the tribe to endorse the “Fighting Illini” name and work hand-in-hand with the tribe to create a new version of the Chief Illiniwek mascot. The tribe recently issued a statement that called the mascot a, “degrading racial stereotype.” Officials from the University of Illinois say that the mascot will not be returning anytime soon.