State’s sleazy ethics tarnish a great university
Where will Illinois’ culture of corruption strike next?
The University of Illinois admissions office has come under scrutiny for accepting subpar students who were recommended by powerful political people.
The University of Illinois. A bastion of knowledge, research and cutting-edge technology, offering more than 5,000 courses in at least 150 fields of study. The largest university system in the state, with more than 31,000 undergraduate students and 10,000 graduate and professional students.
Yes, that University of Illinois.
Its admissions process has been subverted by people who are accustomed to using their positions of power to throw their weight around and get what they want.
The Chicago Tribune, in a series of stories, reported on the university’s “Category I” list, where applicants who had friends in high places were placed and given special treatment.
Of the 800 persons put on the list since 2005, 77 percent were admitted. This compares to 69 percent of other applicants during that time.
Who exactly contacted the university to request special treatment?
People like House Speaker Michael Madigan and state Rep. James DeLeo, both Chicago Democrats. Each made nine inquiries in 2005 on behalf of applicants they favored.
People like former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. He backed an unqualified applicant who was a relative of convicted influence peddler and friend Tony Rezko.
Other assorted alumni, trustees, university donors, power brokers and parents asked for special consideration – and got it. Even neighbors, friends and housekeepers of influential people could get an applicant placed on the “Category I” list.
We object to the university creating a list of special applicants. Merit, not favoritism, should be the guiding principle for admission.
We applaud the university’s decision to rid itself this unfair practice, and its pledge to review admission policies and practices.
We share state Rep. Mike Boland’s outrage over the entire mess. Boland, an East Moline Democrat and chairman of the Illinois House’s Higher Education Committee, wants Gov. Pat Quinn to name an independent panel to investigate the matter.
This sounds reasonable.
However, Boland’s call for University President B. Joseph White to resign is premature.
White and university administrators aren’t the problem.
Illinois’ culture of corruption is.
The real culprits are politicians, alumni and the well-connected who push for underqualified applicants to be granted admission over more qualified students.
It’s one more reason that corruption – and those who thrive on it – must no longer be tolerated by Illinois residents.
Because if the state’s flagship university – one of the best in the nation – isn’t safe from undue influence and favoritism, then nothing is.
