June 7, 2001
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
On June 7, 2001, St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that "the University of Illinois has rescinded an earlier requirement that faculty and students get permission from the athletic department before talking with athletic recruits about their opposition to the Chief Illiniwek mascot...With the backing of the American Civil Liberties Union, seven faculty members and students [had] sued the university in federal court" for violating their right to free speech.