2 like 1 dislike
in General Factchecking by Apprentice (1.1k points)
Now before I get heat, I do love the mammoth but I am curious as to why it is on the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign campus. I read it was to be a mammoth tribute, but are there other reasons why they decided to make a tribute at all? Is there a connection to the University and mammoths specifically outside of the fact that mammoths roamed Illinois long ago? Why mammoths and not other historical animals?

6 Answers

5 like 0 dislike
by Apprentice (1.3k points)
According to the school website, the mammoth was chosen to speak to the work done in the campus Natural History Building. On top of that, as you said, it is also to speak to the region we live in once home to many mammoths. I don't know of any specific relations, the NHB is said to have used to be a museum that had many mammoth skeletons. It is likely just to symbolize a study focus in academia.

https://las.illinois.edu/news/2023-03-24/mammoth-tribute-illinois-history
Can't be true or false (Opinion, poem, etc.)
by Genius (48.9k points)
0 0
by Novice (610 points)
0 0
You did a good job checking the information, but it looks like you proved it true and marked it as not being either.
by Apprentice (1.5k points)
0 0
I believe this claim is true, yet it seems you marked it as false?
4 like 0 dislike
by Apprentice (1.0k points)

It is true that the statue is meant to hold as a tribute to mammoths, but it is not the only reason the statue was built and placed on the University's campus. According to multiple sources including the Daily Illini, Urbana-Champaign was a stomping ground for mammoths around 30,000 years ago.  When thinking of the history of Illinois, the presence of mammoths would most likely not come to mind.  Stephen Marshak, a professor within the College of LAS says, "We hope the mammoth will be eye-catching to the University community as well as to the public in C-U and the people visiting the campus." The new statue will represent not only a tribute to the mammoth, but will also symbolize the curiosity and beauty surrounding the history of Illinois. 

https://dailyillini.com/news-stories/campus-life/2023/03/14/mammoth-sculpture-uiuc/

Can't be true or false (Opinion, poem, etc.)
by Journeyman (2.5k points)
0 0
Interesting information! Nice use of the DI as a source.
by Master (4.2k points)
0 0
I also like how the DI was used as a source for this factcheck since its student reporters would have connections to further inquire about the purpose of the statue. This is an example of engaged journalism.
1 like 0 dislike
by Apprentice (1.4k points)

According to a Illinois insider paper, "A new mammoth sculpture is found in the same place its ancestors wandered 30,000 years prior. That’s even older than the neighboring Natural History Building (NHB), built in 1892, from where it draws inspiration.". I think the mammoth hold meaning for a lot of things on campus. 

https://fs.web.illinois.edu/Insider/2023/03/23/our-mammoth-history/ 

Can't be true or false (Opinion, poem, etc.)
by Genius (48.9k points)
0 0
Wouldn't this make the claim true -- based on your explanation and source link?
1 like 0 dislike
by Journeyman (2.7k points)

According to multiple interviews and the University of Illinois website, the Mammoth statue was designed to promote the life that used to geographical live in Illinois over 30,000 years ago. 

The Mammoth was once native to Illinois, and will be used to draw attention to the Natural Science building and pay respects to the heritage of the building all the while helping promote the major as well.

The funds have been set forth since 2014, and now the Mammoth has officially returned to Champaign. 

https://las.illinois.edu/news/2023-03-24/mammoth-tribute-illinois-history

by Genius (48.9k points)
0 0
How would you rate the claim? I can't really tell from your explanation which rating you think is best. Going forward, don't forget to select a rating (true, false, opinion, misleading, etc.).
2 like 0 dislike
by Apprentice (1.8k points)
The mammoth is on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus next to the Natural History Building (NHB). The original proposal of this realistic mammoth statue was Stephen Marshak (professor emeritus of geology and the former director of the School of Earth, Society, & Environment (SESE) and Fred Delcomyn, professor emeritus of Molecular and integrative physiology and former director of the School of Integrative Biology (SIB).

According to Marshak, one of the original proposers of the realistic mammoth, the mammoth "reflected the heritage of NHB, which has always been a home for geology and biology, and for many years hosted a Museum of Natural History, which contained casts of mammoth skeletons...The point of the sculpture, building on the heritage of NHB, is to convey an aspect of our region’s natural history." (https://las.illinois.edu/news/2023-03-24/mammoth-tribute-illinois-history)

In other words, the person who proposed building a realistic mammoth claims that the mammoth will reflect what the NHB is on the U of I campus for -- the mammoth will represent and remind viewers of the region's history.

Furthermore, Marshak says in the same source, “[p]aleontological evidence suggests that mammoths went extinct in Illinois about 13,000 years ago....” (https://las.illinois.edu/news/2023-03-24/mammoth-tribute-illinois-history). He also adds that "A real mammoth could very well have once stood on the spot where the sculpture will stand.” (https://dailyillini.com/news-stories/campus-life/2023/03/14/mammoth-sculpture-uiuc/) In another article, Marshak is quoted to have said that it’s the largest animal since the dinosaurs to have lived in Illinois. (https://www.wcia.com/news/ui-campus-welcomes-new-unique-statue-in-urbana/)

This leads to further suggestions that the mammoth does not have another intended meaning, as mammoths are extinct and thus represent natural history, but also that they once were the largest animals (perhaps) to roam Illinois after dinosaurs. Choosing a mammoth as a tribute to the natural history of the area is appropriate.

Marshak also says "[The mammoth] is also something that will be a learning experience for students, staff, and the public. It will draw attention to the activities of SESE and SIB in NHB, and to the heritage of the second oldest academic building on campus." (https://las.illinois.edu/news/2023-03-24/mammoth-tribute-illinois-history). Marshak also says that "He wants people to remember that landscapes are constantly changing and that people know the U of I campus occupies a land that has been around for geologic time." (https://www.wcia.com/news/ui-campus-welcomes-new-unique-statue-in-urbana/)

He continues to say that another reason for the mammoth can be somewhat of a lesson for anyone who sees it -- a lesson reminding the public of what the landscape once was but also a lesson pointing to the heritage of NHB.

In addition, Erika Lee, U of I Facilities & Services interior designer and mammoth structure project manager, says of the mammoth: "Because of the nature of the academic activities that take place at NHB, there was interest in artwork that would depict and communicate in a realistic, naturalistic, or even abstract way, an aspect of the geological and biologic history of Illinois." (https://www.esconi.org/esconi_earth_science_club/2023/04/uiuc-a-mammoth-tribute-to-illinois-history-fossil-paleontology-deeptime-elephant-mammoth-uiuc-illino.html).

It seems like students understand the symbol too, as student Eesha Baura (sophomore) says, "I think the statue is really cool as an homage to the Natural History Building.” (https://dailyillini.com/news-stories/around-campus/2023/03/27/uiuc-mammoth-statue/)

Given the interviews with the person who proposed the mammoth alongside someone who worked on the actual mammoth and also one impression of a student who saw the mammoth, it seems like the mammoth really was created to be a symbol/tribute to the natural history of Illinois and what the NHB is around for. It also seems to thus far function as such.
True
by Apprentice (1.0k points)
0 0
Great fact-checking. The in-depth interview sources and explanation give a better insight into the purpose of the mammoth statue and its homage.
1 like 0 dislike
by Apprentice (1.2k points)

According to Professor Stephan Marshak in the Illinois Newsroom article, the mammoth has many purposes. One of them is that mammoths used to roam this area since UIUC was once an Ice Age. It also shows the history of the land and the animals that used to live there, and the Natural History Building used to house mammoth remains. 

Article That I Used For This Information

True

Community Rules


Be respectful.

There is bound to be disagreement on a site about misinformation. Assume best intentions on everyone's part.

If you are new to factchecking, take some time to learn about it. "How to Factcheck" has some resources for getting started. Even if you disagree with these materials, they'll help you understand the language of this community better.

News Detective is for uncovering misinformation and rumors. This is not a general interest question-answer site for things someone could Google.

Posting

The title is the "main claim" that you're trying to factcheck.

Example:
Factcheck This: Birds don't exist

If possible, LINK TO to the place you saw the claim.

Answering

LINK TO YOUR EVIDENCE or otherwise explain the source ("I called this person, I found it in this book, etc.")

But don't just drop a link. Give an explanation, copy and paste the relevant information, etc.

News Detective is not responsible for anything anyone posts on the platform.
...