Name: Mollie Block
Year: Senior
Major: Radio/Television/Film
Hometown: Deerfield, Illinois
Claim-to-fame: The Girl Behind the Famous Dillo Day Mascot
How did you decide or get selected to wear the suit?
The armadillo mascot has only been around for 4 years. Katie Chilton, one of our special events co-chairs, had some time on her hands freshman year, and made the suit out of fabric and Styrofoam scraps from Ford. On Dillo Day freshman year I just so happened to put the suit on and walked around the lakefill. It was crazy fun for me and people got really excited, so it kind of just became my unofficial Mayfest job.
What qualities you have that would make you a great Dillo?
Being the Dillo allows me to let loose, have fun and interact with the Northwestern community. I’m a pretty friendly person naturally, but being behind the Dillo mask gives me the freedom to bust out some crazy dance moves, take pictures with drunk kids on the lakefill, and make people smile, and that’s why I love doing it.
What do you have to do on Dillo day?
I’m with the rest of Mayfest from the crack of dawn to late into the night on Dillo Day, setting up and then striking down fences, the beer garden, and all of our activity stations. For the past three years I’ve been on the Lakefill crew throughout the majority of the day, which means that I help out with the various activities that we always have on the lakefill. Helping keep the photobooth line organized or supervising the water station are jobs that I can do in character, so luckily I can still do my Mayfest duties while also being the Dillo.
How did you get involved in Mayfest?
I had never heard of Dillo Day, but was eager to get involved in lots of different groups as a freshman, so I applied to Mayfest on a whim! I count my three, soon to be four, Dillo Days as some of my favorite memories from my time at Northwestern.
How did your friends react about you wearing the Dillo?
Since I’ve been doing it for four years now most of my close friends know it’s me, so they’ll make sure to come up to me on the lakefill. But I love interacting with people who have no idea who I am just as much, because then I just get to be a friendly armadillo making their day a little better.
What is your favorite Dillo day memory?
Last year Walk The Moon invited me onstage to dance with them, which was not only my favorite Dillo Day memory, but probably top five best moments of my life. They were so high energy and probably my favorite act that I’ve gotten to see over the past three years.
What are you most excited about Dillo Day this year?
Honestly, every year I just get excited for the whole day. Each Dillo Day has been better than the last over the course of my time on Mayfest. Rain or shine (knock on wood for lots of shine!), I think it’s the best day of the year at NU.