The News-Gazette.com: Excerpts from e-mails

Excerpts from e-mails

By The News-Gazette

Friday, June 26, 2009 8:23 AM CDT

Excerpts from e-mails released Thursday by the University of Illinois regarding admissions:

– May 3, 2006, from then-Law Dean Heidi Hurd to Chancellor Richard Herman, regarding a student about whom trustee Niranjan Shah had asked, discussing notification that the student would be admitted:

"Have you made the calls you (Larry E? the Governor?) want to make on that one?"

Larry Eppley was at the time the chairman of the UI board.

– March 6, 2007, from Hurd to a number of law school officials:

"I talked to the Chancellor about how sensitive our admission numbers are this year and about how perilous is our ability to yield a class that has comparable numbers to past years. I told him that I needed to know from him how many Special Admit candidates he knew of at the campus level, because our own influential donors have been particularly aggressive this year in persuading us to take candidates of their choice (and we are still dealing with outstanding requests). He said that he would help us hold the line this year."

– Dec. 12, 2003, from Hurd to a number of law school officials:

First notes she was able to get then-Provost Richard Herman to fund scholarships for three "Special Admit" students. "Even when the Provost agreed to deny students last year, he twice changed his mind, and that got us into hot water. Also, I found that I was bargaining for better students over better-connected worse students – and that I was able successfully to substitute a student with a higher set of scores for one with a lower set, even after the one with the higher set had been initially cut loose. So let's continue to give the Provost's Office feedback about our initial determinations; then put the cases on 'hold'; and keep their files separate and separately accounted for. Then I'll do my best to keep the number of Provostian admits to a minimum, and extract payment for them."

– May 8, 2008, from Paul Pless, assistant dean of admissions, to Herman and others, about a particular student:

"He is currently on our waitlist at the request of Government Relations. He has taken the LSAT twice ... His application would have been denied after the initial review if not for the special interest in his file."

– April 15, 2006, from Herman to Hurd:

"2 full tuition fellowships for (names redacted). Thanks for being so helpful on this. Please go ahead and admit them as well as (a third name)."

– April 1, 2005, from UI President B. Joseph White to Hurd:

"Representative Young called me back. She wants me to meet with (name redacted) prior to a final decision being made. She asked me to do this for her (the representative). I told her I would consider it over the weekend and call her back Monday.

"This is tough but I think I need to do it. So, Heidi, would you make sure the rejection letter does not go out? I think I will meet with her, tell her I am doing so at the representative's request, tell her the prospects are not good and why, discuss alternatives with her."

About an hour later, Hurd forwarded the note to Pless, adding:

"Damn. Make sure you DON'T reject her."

– Feb. 24, 2005, from Pless to Hurd:

"The Provost's office has asked me to make (name redacted) special interest. They didn't say why, but then they usually don't."

– Jan. 15, 2007, from White to a redacted name:

"My concern about meeting with you is that it will raise your hopes about my helping you gain admission to the U of I, i.e. getting off the deferred list. I'm sorry I can't do that.

"I am bringing your message to the attention of people who can ensure your application gets a very careful review so nothing falls through the cracks.

"I wish you the best. If you are admitted to U of I, great. If not, get that college education anyway. I know you will."

– Sept. 26, 2006, from Herman to former Gov. James Thompson:

"Dear Governor Thompson,

"I just became aware of the application of (name redacted) to our university. Having read through her transcript and her personal statement I am sure that she has the drive and ambition to succeed here. ... I want to thank you for sharing (name redacted) interest with us. Please don't hesitate to call upon me in the future."

– June 21, 2004, from John Rossi, an assistant law dean, to Pless, with a subject line of "Special Admits":

"Talked with Richard. ... As for the others we are still holding, he is going to talk with Larry Eppley and get back to me this afternoon or tomorrow."

– April 13, 2004, from Hurd to Herman:

"Just talked with Rick Schoell (UI government relations)" about a denial. "He said that he thought it best, unfortunately for you, for you to call (former trustee) Tom Lamont just to ensure that no feathers were ruffled. Rick said that this case had not been at the center of his radar screen, nor was it among the cases pressed by Larry Eppley on behalf of the Governor, so he felt that this decision might pass without significant complaint. Still, I spend considerable time trying to make your life easier, not harder, and I really apologize for this one."

– Jan. 17, 2005, from Rossi to Pless:

"Would you be so kind as to check on the recently completed application for (name redacted) and let me know what her chances are?"

Pless responded: "If she were a non-resident she would have a better chance. Let me know if the file needs special attention."

Rossi responded: "Some. I would like her to win ties with similarly situated folks who would otherwise get in, but in the end the numbers rule."

City editor MIKE HOWIE