UIUC's Unofficial tradition was created by bar owners in Campustown

Question

The Daily Illini claims that"the bar owners created an alternative event called “Shamrock Staggers,” which was initially advertised as the University’s “Official St. Patrick’s Day Party,” but was later changed due to supposed disapproval from the administration. The event was promoted as an “unofficial” party the following year, indicating that the administration had formally disassociated itself from the occasion".

Answer 1

UIUC's unofficial weekend is a famous tradition at the University of Illinois. It is when St. Patricks Day is celebrated, but is called unofficial because it is not "officially" St. Patricks day because unofficial isn't celebrated on the exact holiday. This weekend is know to be rowdy, and full of drinking throughout the University. It is true that "Unofficial was created in 1995 by bar owners in Campustown" according to the Daily Illini. Along with this, I have multiple friends who work at bars on campus and in Campustown who have backed up this claim and said that it was the bar owners who created this unofficial holiday for the University. 

https://dailyillini.com/special-sections/unofficial-edition/2018/03/01/unofficial-22-years-long/  

Comments

I like that you included a detailed write up with information to back up your fact-check. Also, going forward, you can dig a bit deeper and find a source that is not already included with the claim. That would make for a stronger fact-check. Overall, good effort!

Answer 2

According to the Illinois Library Archives, the story you describe is correct!

https://archives.library.illinois.edu/2014/03/06/unofficial/

Comments

Good work finding a secondary source that was not included with the claim! Going forward, try to add to your fact-check explanation so that it has more substance -- you can include a passage from the source, and also explain in your own words how the claim is true.

Answer 3

This is true. The University of Illinois' archives confirm that bar owners began this tradition of Unofficial. 

The article "Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day: The Official Story" states, "Traditionally, St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) is celebrated by sociable young adult Americans with a visit to a local pub or tavern. However, in March 1995, the 17th fell during the University of Illinois Spring Break...Not content to let the popular celebration slip away from them, local businesses organized an alternative event: the 'Shamrock Stagger.'"

This "Shamrock Stagger" was the beginning of what we now know as Unofficial. There is unclear evidence regarding the claim of the title Unofficial taking over due to the adminstration. 

The University Archives state, "Although no record of correspondence (official or unofficial) between the University and the event’s sponsors has yet been discovered in the University Archives, some changes may have been suggested by concerned parties, because the following year’s pre-Spring Break promotion was smaller and advertised slightly differently. Drink specials...before Spring Break 1996...were advertised under the banner of “Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day” for the first time."

Essentially, there is strong evidence showing that local bar owners were responsible for the creation for what has become Unofficial today. It is unclear whether the change in title was due to pressure from administration, though it would make sense. 

https://archives.library.illinois.edu/2014/03/06/unofficial/