The good news:
On Wednesday, two of nine University of Illinois trustees got to remain on the board.
Several weeks ago, the Sun-Times editorial board argued it was shortsighted to dump the entire U of I board, despite the admissions clout scandal uncovered this summer. The most culpable board members must go, but throwing away the full board robs the university of their expertise, institional knowledge and experience.
The bad news:
The two members are staying because they forced Quinn into it, not because he chose them.
For weeks, Quinn insisted that all board members should resign, clearing the way for him to decide which resignations to accept. On Wednesday Quinn reversed, leaving himself looking like an indecisive, weak leader. These two trustees are good choices to stay on the board but Quinn should have stood firm in his demand that he pick the board members.
Quinn justified the move by saying he didn't want to put the state through a long legal battle with trustees James Montgomery and Frances Carroll.
But Quinn is the one who boxed himself into this corner. This is just the latest example of Quinn making a proclamation and failing to stick with it.
We like the outcome here. But, once again, we're disappointed in how Quinn got us here.
This blog brought to you by the Sun-Times editorial board (click on names to read bios):
It's the President and Chancellor who should be fired. They are the ones who allowed the admissions debacle to occur - - and will be collecting BIG bonuses if they stay on.
First and foremost, 'Due Process' is the protocol for any issue that has developed into a conflict. For the admissions selection at UofI, The DOJ has a complete and detailed model for law school applicants, as submitted by a former employee of the Law School Admissions Council/Services organization (LSAS/LSAC) after the Grutter decision was announced. DJ 169-73-0 April 5th 2005
And with the Grutter Decision having a 25 year sunset date on AA for higher Ed, the US Attorney General received numerous proposals in identifying and resolving the impasse for admissions into law school, but only one proposal illustrated a consequence to the states, if not implemented.
In review of the candidates who submitted their names for the Admissions Review Board, Quinn was made aware of what the DOJ now has within their presence. In every respect, the regents at U of I, sprung the trap on the impasse for law school admissions and the undergraduate selection process.
What will now come out of this scandal will be a defined process for both the undergraduate and law school admissions program. With the lawsuits soon to be presented, these individuals will have the defined model that will either prove their denial or admissions into the various programs that they sought.
Research is always the key in defining and resolving any issue. Should the readers of this note decide to comprehend as to what the 'Old Folks' conceived in resolving this issue on university admissions, they will establish a format for discussion and permit individuals who have the knowledge in presenting the research and the opportunity to state the objectives of the council and the involvement by our government in resolving admissions for both the undergraduate and secondary degree programs.........
The politicians who used their clout to interfere with admissions processes should be held just as accountable as well as those who caved in to the politicians' requests/demands.
And as for the two trustees who refuse to resign and said they would sue because they were being forced to resign because of their skin color? Puh-leeze! The governor said he wanted the entire board to resign. Color had nothing to do with it. In my opinion, these two trustees just sent the issue of racism backwards.
Why be disappointed in Pat Quinn? Be disappointed with those jerks that broke the law in the first place. Quinn has enough on his plate without having to deal with this b.s.
A person has the right to change their mind, don't they??? This is an incredibly stupid article, hardly worth the comment.
Pat Quinn did what he could do at the time and rolled with the flow, being educated about the situation every hour on the hour. I believe whomever wrote this article is jealous of our great Governor. How sad.
This whole thing is blown out of proportion. Buried under the headlines is the fact that a great number of students on the so called clout list were accepted on their own merits. As almost equal number were rejected, despite being on the so called clout list. Last year there were only 30 something students accepted off the clout list. This is a fraction of a a percent of the total student body. And of course there is nothing to say that those thirty students may not have been accepted on an appeal based on their own merit. While threatening funding and attempting to create staff positions are obviously out of bounds, letters of recommendations and constituent inquiries are proper.
I agree with Allberg, fire them both,now.
I've heard them say that no one was bumped, all they did was "fill an empty chair". Well if thats all they do there, thats the admission standard then just admit the 1st 10K who apply.
The larger point is not that no one was bumped. What about the student who Worked,studied and strived their very best yet fell a tiny bit short? Excluded from perhaps their dream school because their folks just work for a living, paying taxes to support the condescending snobs who run U of I.
I think before they are All fired or resign each one of these elites owe an apology to the underdog kids whose faces they have spit in.
The two black trustees played the race card and Gov. Quinn backed down, what a leader. He should have let them sue. The U of I has already hired "6" law firms to work on the admissions issue. A couple of more law firms to thrump the race card is what this State needs.
A person has the right to change their mind, don't they??? This is an incredibly stupid article, hardly worth the comment.
Pat Quinn did what he could do at the time and rolled with the flow, being educated about the situation every hour on the hour