University of Illinois application clout list fallout grows

Fallout from questionable admissions practices at the University of Illinois continued Sunday as a state representative called for the resignation of the school system's president and the trustees who meddled with student applications.

[Uncle Tom]

Folks this happens all the all over america. We all know this happens and it's time to move on. If you did not get in, you will live. Move On Aalready!

[ydice]

No. Not time to move on. It is a shameful way to devalue a university's standing. Yes. It happens. Especially in the Ivy Leagues. However, just because it does happen does not mean there should be vehement opposition to the practice.

Enough with Illinois politicians currying favor.

[Riverwestie]

Aside from being denied entry into the University due to space constraints from these clout attendees, the University should in all fairness REFUND ALL application fees to those who applied and were denied admittance in the past 5 years. They want to rectify the situation and look better to the public? That would be a start!

[Mark]

I wonder what other lists U of I has. How many foreign and out of state students are accepted over qualified Illinois students? Seems my tax dollars should be spent on Illinois students first then all others.

[Buddy]

Chances that it will work out this way? Slim to none.

C'mon, you know how these things work. The people to be forced out will be the admissions staff who resisted and/or leaked the story. The clout pushers will keep their jobs.

[Katie K]

How about if all the elected officials who pushed for applicant acceptance step down?

[Qualified IL Students]

No, just because this happens all over, it does not mean that an attempt should not be made to stop this practice.
Qualified Illinois students should be given the first opportunity to attend our State universities.

[FollowTheMoney]

Great idea Katie, also let these elected officials be the ones to repay the application fees to Illinois applicants. They could pay out of their slush funds.

[Jim]

These politicians sound like the corrupt cop in Casablanca: "I am shocked--shocked!--to find that clout has influence on acceptance at U of I."

Please. It's been going on for decades. Don't get all ethical and righteous on us _now_.

[I-L-L]

This explains how some of the people with whom I attended U of I were even there to begin with.

[Jerry Burke]

I think The Chief should be put in charge of investigating the clout list.

[hip]

i thought i could get in with a 3.8gpa and 32 on my act, but I my parents didn't pay to play.

[Welcome Comrades]

Just like the "special" list that the politicians have for folks who apply for city jobs. If you do enough campaign work you get on that list and if you keep doing that campaign work you can get some family members on that list.

Everybody know this. It's the "Chicago Way". It keeps the powerfull, powerfull in Chicago and Crook County!

[Welcome Comrades]

Uncle Tom wrote:

Folks this happens all the all over america. We all know this happens and it's time to move on. If you did not get in, you will live. Move On Aalready!

Everybody else is doing it? Move On?
That's your answer? What happen to the land of "CHANGE".

Just what I thought, only words to get the cronies elected!

Sheeple!

[Former Commuter Student]

I am from Illinois and that means the taxes I pay help support U of I and the rest of the state universities. I tried getting admitted into an online program only to find out that they openly preferred students from out of state. Instead of being able to take classes via the Internet, I commuted four hours one-way to class. The out-of-state students brought in more tuition money. At least I got admitted into a program, despite wasting time in a car and fossil fuels. I have no idea how many Illinois residents got turned away completely in favor of the out-of-state students.

Although 800 clout students does not seem like very many, when that gets added to those who get those full-ride General Assembly scholarships passed out as political favors, this ends up wasting millions of dollars every year supporting students who did not belong and for scholarships to the unworthy. Yes, many students earn those scholarships and yes, many politicians gave them to worthy students who earned them without clout but the last time I checked, the state was in the hole in the billions. Every few million here and there wasted adds up. The waste cannot be ignored anymore. The good old days of passing out favors has to end. We cannot afford politicians giving out favors anymore. It is one piece of the overall debt.

[da truth]

so sad. all those pols and students should go to jail or be fined 10,000 dollars.

[Positively Fourth Street]

I am amazed at the uproar. I was aware of this as an undergrad and knew people who took advantage. They were not discernible from the others who were not well connected.

I believe this policy is in writing. If it is, no one can complain about anything. Ignorance of the law or the policy is no excuse. I think each state rep and senator along with trustees get to put names onto the list.

[Steve]

This appears to be a racketeering enterprise on a grand scale. We hope all students who should have gotten in to U of I sue. Did Obama help anyone get in as an Illinois State Senator? The Chicago Tribune is rather quiet on the subject.

[U of I Grad]

The administration of the University of Illinois also has the job of ensuring funding from the state of Illinois. Sometimes this requires being blackmailed to retire the Chief and other times it means admitting politically connected candidates.

I would think State Rep Boland would understand how things work. Do you think he resigns every time he takes a contribution from a lobbyist?

[Reality]

White should be FIRED!