DeKALB – NIU’s Furry club, also known as the HuskieFurs or NIU Furs, has been active at NIU as an official organization since May 2024.
The group, advised by Randy Caspersen, associate professor of Media Studies, was established with the intention of promoting a welcoming and inclusive community for people with an interest in Furry culture.
Ash Froehle, a senior majoring in communications and Vice President of the HuskieFurs, shared some information about the Furry community and how the club embraces the culture.
“The Furry community is a lot about art, the creation, sharing and display of art,” Froehle said. “You have amazing creators over here, both in the physical sense of fur suitors, but also in the digital sense of, like, the digital art.”
The Furry fandom serves people with an interest in anthropomorphic animal characters, but HuskieFurs is open to anyone. The club aims to bring together like-minded individuals and spark genuine friendships at NIU.
Justin Faunillan, a senior majoring in illustration and social media manager of the HuskieFurs, described the individuals in the club and how the environment welcomes everyone.
“It’s a diverse community that enjoys expressing itself,” Faunillan said. “The Furry fandom has always been an open sort of community that allows anyone from all walks of life.”
A member of the HuskieFurs, Brent Roberson, a junior majoring in meteorology, expressed their appreciation for the club and their time spent as a member.
“I never really engaged with the fandom, I just looked at it from an outsider’s lens,” Roberson said. “Now that I’m actually engaging with it, it feels like I could really get a sense of community.”
Roberson also discussed the opportunities and experiences the HuskieFurs have opened up for them.
“Having these opportunities now that I’m here and I have people who I can talk with, I’m sure I can make some amazing friends,” Roberson said. “I wouldn’t have been able to have all these experiences and have these friendships if it weren’t for this club.
The group encourages anyone who is interested in joining to locate their information on Huskie Hub, Northern Illinois University Furry Club, or reach out through email, [email protected].
