Judge rules on Univ. of Illinois PEORIA, Ill. (AP) - The University of Illinois cannot stop faculty and students from contacting athletic recruits to discourage them from attending the school because of its Indian mascot, a federal judge ruled. U.S. District Judge Michael Mihm agreed Thursday (5 April 2001) to grant a temporary restraining order against a policy that required any contact with recruits to be cleared through the athletic department. Chancellor Michael Aiken announced the policy last month after opponents of the mascot, Chief Illiniwek, said they would contact recruits and urge them to choose other schools because they consider the mascot racist and degrading to American Indians. Aiken said he was concerned it could violate NCAA recruiting rules. The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit, saying the policy illegally restricts free speech. Stephen Kaufman, an Illinois professor and one of the plaintiffs, said Thursday that mascot opponents would resume their campaign. Bob Bettwy [EMAIL PROTECTED] Director - Program Control Washington Group SRS Technologies (703) 351-7266