Clout Goes to College

Corruption in Illinois is not just affecting us and our taxes and jobs, now it affects the future of our kids. One of Tony Rezko's relatives gets a boost to go to U of I. Chicago Tribune:

In one case, a relative of Antoin "Tony" Rezko, the now-convicted influence peddler for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, got admitted after U. of I. President B. Joseph White wrote an e-mail stating that the governor "has expressed his support, and would like to see admitted" Rezko's relative and another applicant.

White's message to the university chancellor was passed on to admissions officials on the same day they entered a rejection decision for the Rezko relative. "He's actually pretty low," replied an admissions officer, referring to the applicant's ACT score and other credentials. "Let me know when the denial letter can go out."

There were apparently 800 of the undeserving but influential, just since 2005. And as we know, qualified kids who want to go to U of I are turned away:

"Whether it's [a Rezko relative] or any other kid who takes a spot, he typically takes a spot of someone who is more qualified. That's the part that gets my blood boiling," said Jim Conroy, a New Trier Township High School college counselor. "This is not a private institution. This is yours and mine. Our flagship state university should not be part of any political shenanigans."

We pay and pay and pay for corruption folks.

Clout-wielding pols refer to their favorites as "no-brainers" for admission.