Class Without Clout Sues University of Illinois Over Admissions Corruption

"Politically appointed trustees and lawmakers routinely behave as armchair admissions officers advocating on behalf of relatives and neighbors - even housekeepers' kids and families with whom they share Hawaiian vacations ... They declare their candidates 'no brainers' for admission [to the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana] and suggest that if they are not accepted, the admission system may need revamping," according to a recently filed class action complaint as quoted by Courthouse News Service. The class claims that between 1999 and 2009 the U of I maintained a "clout list," of students who were admitted because of their political connections, though they had lower exam scores and class ranks than other applicants. The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the suit seeks $5 million in damages. Don't know if some qualified but politically not connected students denied admission to U of I's College of Law are representing the plaintiffs.

LLB's coverage of U of I College of Law's involvement in the corrupt admissions scheme:

Can $300,000 in additional scholarship money to prop up U of I's US News law school ranking be defended on moral grounds? (July 13, 2009)

Admissions on Corrupt Admissions: University of Illinois and College of Law Officials Testify They Tried to Get Jobs for Law School Grads and Additional Scholarships for Being Forced to Admit Clouted Students to Law School (July 8, 2009)

Did the University of Illinois Barter Jobs for Law School Grads in Exchange for Law School Admission of Under-Qualified, Politically Connected Students? (June 29, 2009)

[JH]