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By Associated Press 11:29 a.m. CST, February 26, 2012
CHICAGO (AP) — More Illinois politicians — including top Democrats and Republicans — have been identified as using their influence to help students get into the University of Illinois, according to a published report Sunday.
The Chicago Tribune first reported in 2009 the existence of the system to help politically-connected students. A so-called “clout list” was comprised of students favored by lawmakers and trustees; some of those students were admitted to the university over more qualified ones.
The newspaper reported (http://trib.in/yJnnrw ) in its Sunday editions that it has now identified about one-quarter of the 800 students who received preferential treatment from 2005 to 2009, allowing it to link the students to elected officials, many for the first time. The newspaper cited public records and documents from the university’s governmental relations office in its analysis.
