2000

A student studies in the Union, circa 2007

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools issued report expressing concern about University’s handling of Chief Illiniwek issue.

Year-long dialogue on Chief Illiniwek conducted.

Binding vote of student trustees made permanent.

Phi Kappa Tau fraternity suspended for at least two years.

2001

A student waves the American flag at a United We Stand gathering on the Quad, held three days after September 11, 2001, circa 2001

Fire at Abbott Power Plant left most of campus without power, causing cancellation of classes.

First Paint the Hall Orange held.

First Unofficial St. Patrick's Day held.

Men’s basketball team shared Big Ten title.

Students held memorial services in wake of events of September 11th.

New ACES Library dedicated.

Irwin Indoor Football Facility completed.

GEO members conducted strike.

Football team won Big Ten title outright.

2002

Illini lost to Lousiana State University in Sugar Bowl,

GEO staged sit-in at Swanlund Administration Building.

City of Champaign completed Green Street section of the Campustown Infrastructure Reconstruction and Streetscape Project.

Men’s basketball team again won Big Ten, advanced to Sweet Sixteen.

Chicago Bears played season at Memorial Stadium.

Spurlock Museum dedicated.

Native American House established.

GEO won unionization election. Shortly thereafter, the GEO received certification from Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board.

2003

Budget cuts led to decrease in number of courses offered. Library cut staff, canceled 400 journal titles, and reduced hours.

Bruce Weber named men’s basketball coach.

Tennis team compiled 32-0 record, won NCAA title.

Largest freshman class enrolled in fall semester–6,801 students.

Thirty student organizations sponsored rally opposing Iraq War.

Infrastructure replacement on Sixth Street between Healey and John streets completed.

Daily Illini returned to broadsheet design.

University implemented Banner financial system.

University commemorated U.S. Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision.

2004

In 1999 two campus bars sponsored a Pre-St. Patrick’s Day Party. However it wasn’t until 2001 that the event known as Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day kicked off and became an annual tradition, circa 2004

New online registration system UI Integrate Web Self Service implemented, replacing UI Direct.

Men’s basketball team won first outright Big Ten title since 1952.

Demonstrators against Chief Illiniwek occupied Swanlund Administration Building for 32 hours.

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools issued report saying UI’s handling of Chief Illiniwek issue showed failure of leadership.

Twenty-eight current and former UI athletes took part in Athens Olympics. Illini Olympians brought home 20 medals, 14 of which were gold.

Illinois Student Government (ISG) and the Student Senate Caucus merged to form the Illinois Student Senate.

Junior Josh George took 2 bronze track and field medals at Paralympics.

University and GEO reached agreement on wages, hours, and terms of employment.

The I-Clicker–an interactive handheld device– was introduced, permitting students to query professors during lectures.

Joseph White named UI president.

Facebook craze hit campus.

Engineering Quad dedicated as John Bardeen Quadrangle.

Ground broken for Asian-American Cultural Center.

2005

Students poured onto the streets of campustown and climbed on top of the Alma Mater statue to celebrate the Illini basketball team’s appearance in the NCAA championship game, circa 2005

Men’s basketball team lost only one game in the regular season. Team reached Final Four, defeated by North Carolina in championship game, 75-70.

Wrestling team took Big Ten title.

Student died after being hit by bus.

Sherman Hall opened to undergraduates.

NCAA announced ban on certain universities–including UI–from hosting postseason competition because of use of Native American imagery.

First Oktoberfest held.

2006

Library began collecting video games.

Illini Media Company Building completed.

Undergraduate Library interior underwent renovation.

Student died after fall from WILL tower outside Campbell Hall.

Institute for Genomic Biology dedicated.

2007

Students protest the use of the chief as a mascot. In 2007 the University announced Chief Illiniwek would no longer perform, circa 2004

Blizzard on February 13th dumped 15 inches of snow on area, causing classes to be canceled for two days.

University announced Chief Illiniwek would no longer perform. Chief’s last dance occurred on February 21st at halftime of the men’s basketball game against Michigan at the Assembly Hall.

2008

Football team played in Rose Bowl, lost to USC 49-17.

Newly renovated IMPE opened after years of construction.

College of Business Instructional Facility and Sally McFarland Carillon completed.

2009

President B. Joseph White resigned in late 2009 after months of public scrutiny over his role in the University of Illinois admissions scandal.

The Board of Trustees votes to phase out the failed "Global Campus" program, an intiative started in 2006 to expand online education at the University.

In May, the Chicago Tribune revealed that UI administrators had helped admit underqualified students with political connections to the University. In the following months, this scandal would result in the resignations of President Joseph B. White, Chancellor Richard Herman and all but two members of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.

In November, Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) goes on a 2-day strike, eventually winning concessions from the University on wages, benefits, grievance proceedures, and tuition waiver security.