News: "Clout List" at U of I?

In case you missed it, the Chicago Tribune did a story over the weekend that took a look at the college admissions process and discovered (I know this is going to be a shock) that applicants with well-connected parents got preferential admissions treatment.

What actually is surprising is that they didn't look at private schools, which have always given special consideration to alumni or the offspring of the rich and powerful. It was at the state's flagship public school, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Even worse, the students that were given preferential treatment were the children of Illinois lawmakers--the very people who control the university's budget.

So... if you're an Illinois taxpayer, you're paying for a university system that is giving admissions preference to lesser-qualified students solely because they were born to a state legislator. Oh, and by the way, you elected that legislator and are paying his or her salary.

Additional coverage here. -----CJ