American Notes ILLINOIS

They may not have been tops on the list of contributing factors cited by the University of Illinois' Campus Task Force on Sexual Assault, Abuse and Violence. But the Illinettes, the school's cheerleaders, were hands-down the most conspicuous -- and they may be banned. Reporting that a dismaying 16.4% of women students responding to a random survey said they had been victims of criminal sexual assault, the task force singled out the pompon performances by the 28 cheerleaders as one of the "activities that project women as sexual objects."

Wearing snug aerobic leotards and boots, the high-stepping Illinettes do their best to psych up fans at football and basketball games. Though the task force suggested that boozy frat and tailgate parties should go too, it's the threatened pompon ban that has the campus stirred up. "We've been made a scapegoat," charges Illinette squad captain Pam Withers, 20, who says the Illinettes are campus role models. "We consider this a serious sport."