U. of Illinois Fund Raiser Defends ‘Clout Lists’ for Admissions

Testifying Wednesday before a state commission, the head of the University of Illinois Foundation said it is appropriate to notify admissions officers when applicants to the school have ties to big donors, the Chicago Tribune reports.

“They value that information as part of the process. It’s appropriate information to pass along,” Sidney Micek told the Illinois Admissions Review Commission. According to public records, the foundation has lobbied the admissions office on behalf of at least 20 students in the past three years.

In a series of articles over the past two months, the Tribune has reported on “clout lists” of well-connected applicants compiled by the university’s admissions office. The review panel has been holding hearings on the matter since late June and is expected to issue a report next month.

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