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| Former U of I Board Chairman Talks Clout |
A former University of Illinois Board chairman admits he passed on inquiries from people looking to get someone into college, but says he didn't think he had any influence on decisions.
No longer the chairman but still a member of the board, Lawrence Eppley testified Tuesday before the University of Illinois Admissions Commission in Chicago.
In an opening statement, Eppley said that he "did not pal around" or "act as a go-between" for any governor or governor staff.
E-mails released by the university show that Eppley fielded requests from former Gov. Rod Blagojevich to look into applications from well-connected applicants.
University Chancellor Richard Herman earlier this month told the commission Eppley pressured him to admit an under-qualified law school candidate.
When questioned about those e-mails and Herman's testimony, Eppley admitted he would pass names on to Herman, but said he didn't think because the name came from him, it held more weight than other such requests. "I don’t think I had such great powers of persuasion because I had plenty of cases where the answer was just no," Eppley responded after being questioned by Abner Mikva, chairman of the Admissions Review Commission.
Eppley testified that he received between two to five admissions recommendations from the office of then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich per year and passed them on to Herman.
For years the university maintained a list of such applicants, but suspended its use in May.
(Illinois Radio Network) |
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| 07 14 09 by Newsroom |
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