"Saluki Symbol"

Abdul
- The name was official on March 19, 1951.
- Students by voting made the name official for the SIUC mascot.
- They are the oldest pure-bred dogs (going back to 3600 B.C)
- They are presently in Egypt, mostly.
- The salukis are Egyptian hunting dogs.
- The salukis are known for speed and hunting prowess.
- In Egypt salukis were accepted as the finest animals a family could possess.
- They are well-represented dogs (kind of dogs)
- 22 different saluki dog have graced the campus.
- Famous examples are Grace, Shabaka and Debbie.
- And the first and best known is king Tur, which came to SIU in 1953(He died and is buried in a premade grave)