Illinois Genetic Algorithms Laboratory

The University of Illinois has drawn heat from the NCAA and its recent ruling on mascots. The Fighting Illini are represented at halftime shows by a fellow wearing Indian headgear and doing a dance, and campus has been exercised about this for some time (see here). I’m something of an agnostic on the issue, and it seems too bad to give in to the forces of political correctness, especially when they seem less exercised over mascots that might be offensive to others (Fighting Irish, USC Trojans, MSU Spartans, etc.), and what about all those animal mascots. Hasn’t anyone ever heard of PETA?

Regardless, in the interest of promoting campus harmony, I have had a brainstorm that should settle matters once and for all. The campus should pay homage to its own role in the creation of the modern computer & IT eras and rename the team either The Fighting Illiacs or The Bucking Browsers. The first recalls the first computer built and owned by a university (see here) and the second recalls the invention of the Mosaic browser at Illinois at NCSA.

A side effect of the choice is that it will sidestep the banishment of animal mascots by the NCAA in 2067 at the behest of animal-rights groups.