A bill to remove a minimum age requirement to enter the University passed unanimously through the state Senate. The bill now moves on to the state House of Representatives.

A bill to remove a minimum age requirement to enter the University passed unanimously through the state Senate. The bill now moves on to the state House of Representatives.

State Senator Michael Frerichs (D-Champaign) initiated the legislation after hearing the story of Kelsey Caetano-Anolles, an Urbana resident who could not enter the University in the fall because she was not 15.

Frerichs introduced legislation to the Illinois House Education Committee to change the minimum age from 15 to 14. He then decided to remove any mention of a minimum age.

This legislation will put the University in line with the other eight public schools in the state, Frerichs said. He said there is no known reason why the law was put into effect and why it only applies to the University system.

University spokesman Tom Hardy said the University is supportive of the bill. He said the current law is obsolete.

“Admissions officials should be able to make a decision on all those criteria rather than just a birth certificate,” Frerichs said. “I just don’t think it’s right to discriminate based on age. Age is just a number.”