URBANA — Allegations against the University of Illinois women's basketball program drew the interest of one of the state's highest-ranking politicians earlier this month.
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan urged UI President Timothy Killeen to contact one of the parents who claimed their daughters were verbally and emotionally abused by UI coaches and required to play while sick.
Killeen had a "cordial and brief" conversation with Madigan about the allegations during a meeting on May 7, the UI's "Lobby Day" in Springfield, UI spokesman Tom Hardy confirmed. The lobbying sessions followed the UI Board of Trustees' meeting at the UI Springfield campus earlier in the day.