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Cutting Out the Hurd: Tribune Uncovers Letters on the Admission of Unworthy U of I Students Sponsored by Politicians

0718Hurd,Heidi_w{55E09542-B3D1-4E1B-9D64-1A8FCA37BC8B}There has been a long controversy over “legacy” admissions and the politically well connected applicants in law schools. The University of Illinois law school has been entangled in this controversy with the release of an embarrassing email exchange between former Dean Heidi Hurd, Chancellor Richard Herman, and Illinois State Sen. Chris Lauzen on a student Hurd believed was unworthy of admission — but then accepted.


Lauzen wanted a student admitted and, rather than a simple letter of recommendation, he called the school’s lobbyist.

Hurd wrote Chancellor Richard Herman saying “She won’t hurt us terribly, but she certainly won’t help us. She will almost certainly be denied admission if the process unfolds as we predict. But she can probably do the work. If you tell me we need to do this one, we will. We’ll remember it though!”

Herman was replied with “Please admit. I understand no harm.” That of course depends on the meaning of harm and whether you include fairness, academic excellence, or the avoiding of hypocrisy.

Admissions may fall into the category of legislation and sausage with things that you do not want to watch being made. However, the emails were discovered by the Tribune under a Freedom of Information Act which is exploring the admission of unworthy students to please powerful donors or politicians.

One such rejected student was a a relative of Antoin “Tony” Rezko, a shady character connected in a land deal with the Obamas and later convicted on public corruption charges. The student was admitted after the intervention of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is now under indictment himself.

What is astonishing is the Lauzen insists that he not only acted appropriately but that Hurd should be fired for the tone of her emails” “If it were me, I’d fire her, maybe for insolence.”

The fact is that this is hardly unique to the University of Illinois. However, the intervention of the Chancellor is not so common and might have led some deans to push back on the control of the law school over its own affairs. Nevertheless, Hurd is obviously not subtle in telling Herman that this is not a fair selection or good choice for the school. I expect many deans would feel uncomfortable with such a review of emails and messages — part of the benefits of being private rather than public schools.

For the full story, click here.

27 thoughts on “Cutting Out the Hurd: Tribune Uncovers Letters on the Admission of Unworthy U of I Students Sponsored by Politicians”

  1. Mike S., your comments reminded me of an incident years ago when my wife and I bought a home in an older neighborhood adjoining the Orlando Country Club. I had no interest in the club, but the house was nice and was close to my job at the time. The club had a long history of prohibiting Jews and blacks from membership (although blacks of course were permitted to work there). In any event, my then six year old son was invited by one of the neighbor kids to join him at the club pool. He went a couple of times and was completely enthralled. One day, while we were driving down the street, he mentioned the pool and asked if we were joining the club. Sensing an opportunity to teach an important lesson, I responded that we would never consider joining the club. He asked me why and I explained that the club didn’t permit black people or Jewish people to become members and that that was wrong. He then asked, “Dad, are we Jewish?” “No,” I said. “Are we black?” Again I said no. There was a slight pause, and then he said, “Well, then we can join!” Sometimes early lessons in justice don’t quite take.

  2. Mike A

    Thank you for pointing that out about the rich/white Affirmative Action called Legacy. It needed to be said.

  3. The dow may be up. But I am still about 72% down on two accounts.

  4. Chris Lauzen (R-Mars) is my state senator. He is also a moron who once tried to get his name legally changed to “Chris Lauzen, CPA” after a political opponent questioned his accounting credentials. Despite his party affiliation, Lauzen is roundly despised by the Trib. Which just goes to show that a blind pig really CAN find an acorn once in a while.

  7. this type of things goes on all the time. at my sons school if daddy writes a big check to the school admission is guranteed, even if the kid is not up to snuff.

    It’s life, nobody said it was fair.

  9. The system of higher education in the US is elitist and always has been. Harvard used to have a “Jewish” quota and who knows what quota’s they have today. That GW Bush got into both Yale and Harvard Business is total proof of this corruption. The same is true of some of the Kennedy’s, just to even things out. The NCAA is a corrupt athletic organization and the whole world of college sports is rife with greed. College costs have risen at a level far greater than that of inflation for many years.

    At the same time the elite “bitches” about affirmative action completely clueless as to how it’s benefited them and their children. None of these statements will come as a surprise to anyone here, nor are they original to me. What makes me most angry about the situation though, is the hypocrisy of the public relations of most of these institutions.

  10. The fish was great.I am doing very well. The stock market is even cooperating. It is up 200+ points.

  11. Political and legacy admissions have long been the affirmative action programs for the white and the wealthy. Think George Bush, the National Guard and Yale. Empathy in action.

  12. Swarthmore Mom,

    How was the salmon? And how are you doing today?

  13. Thank you for posting that. I didn’t realize that was happening today.He is a good friend of one of my closest friends. What the republicans have done to him is outrageous.

  15. bakker vs the regents. Makes sense to me, if you got the connections, you have the clout. If you have the clout the connections come running to you. I see absolutely no problem with the political patronage system. Ask Cesar, it works. Ask Cassius it worked even better. Until the end. et tu?

    I just wonder who the hell leaked this one. FOIA’s have to be pretty specific, especially in Illinois.

  17. Jeez, unfortunately it appears this entire blog could be fueled with nothing but stories from Illinois.

  19. Can all the students who applied but not admitted to U of I during that cycle file a class action law suit?

    Not sure what the basis would be. Breach of implied duty of good faith and fair dealing? Is there even such a duty? Oh but this is a public school, so maybe there’s a 14th Amendment claim.

  20. ““If it were me, I’d fire her, maybe for insolence.”

    ****************

    It is good to be king.

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