Trustees directed, chided admissions staff

E-mails, letters and admissions records reveal the involvement of some University of Illinois trustees as they
sought to intervene in admissions to the state’s premier public university and the pressure they are some-
times under to do so. The Tribune obtained the documents through the Freedom of Information Act.

Trustee Kenneth Schmidt, the longest Hurd advises Paul Pless, assistant dean Pless informs
serving board member, calls Law School of law school admissions, that Hurd that he
Dean Heidi Hurd about a relative who plans will meet with
to apply. Though the document is redacted, “this one takes velvet gloves.” Schmidt.
Schmidt confirms during an interview that
he called on behalf of a relative.

Feb. 3, 2006: E-mail to then-Board Chairman Lawrence Eppley Jan. 14, 2006: E-mail from Trustee Niranjan Shah to university officials
Eppley, still a trustee, receives an e-mail from a colleague asking that he Shah, now board chairman, turns to Chancellor Richard Herman when
arrange a tour and meeting for his associate’s daughter so she can learn
more about U. of I. When Eppley does not reply for three weeks, the
colleague asks:
“… the son of a key
employee of mine …”
“Are you still
applies to the state’s flag-
the chairman ship campus. Herman, in
turn, asks if it might be
of the Uni- possible to admit the
student to the College of
versity BofT Liberal Arts and Sciences,
even though
or have you
forgotten “I have no idea
[about] me? what the data
Pick one.” are.”
SOURCES: The University of Illinois, Tribune reporting TARA MALONE AND KEITH CLAXTON / TRIBUNE