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

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