U. of Ill. could name interim leader Saturday

URBANA -- The University of Illinois' board of trustees could name an interim president this weekend to take over after B. Joseph White leaves in December.

Trustees have called an emergency meeting for Saturday in Urbana.

The agenda indicates an interim president could be named and that a firm will be hired to start the search for a new president. Former university President Stanley Ikenberry has said he's been approached about serving the interim role and would if asked.

Last week, White said he plans to step down over the fallout from the admissions scandal at the Urbana-Champaign campus where some politically connected applicants were admitted over better-qualified students.