The Chicago Tribune has prompted an outcry in Illinois with a series of articles reporting that the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign bowed to political pressure in admitting several unqualified students.

The articles, which examined university e-mail and records dating to 2005, detail the existence of a “Category I” list at the university for applicants who have been recommended by lawmakers, trustees, or other politically connected people. This year, about 160 high-school students landed on the list out of 26,000 applicants, according to the Tribune. About a quarter of those students were denied admission, and many of those who were admitted appear to have gained admission in their own right.

But over the last five years, at least a few of the well-connected students were accepted despite their poor academic credentials, the Tribune reported. Most notably, the university admitted a relative of Antoin (Tony) Rezko, the now-convicted influence peddler tied to the scandal-tarnished former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who had recommended the student. The relative was accepted even though admissions officials had determined that his academic credentials were “pretty low” and had written that they planned to deny him admission, according to the Tribune.

B. Joseph White, the university’s president, issued a statement on Friday saying that the university — like many others — does track recommendations from lawmakers, trustees, and key alumni. But it is the university’s job, he said, not to “succumb to pressure,” and “all admissions to the University of Illinois should be based on merit.” Mr. White went on to say that if officials had occasionally bowed to pressure, the problem would be corrected.

According to the Daily Illini, the campus newspaper, Mr. White is meeting with his staff and admissions officials today to discuss the issue. Meanwhile, the chair of the Illinois House of Representative’s Committee on Higher Education told the Daily Illini that he was shocked by the Tribune’s reports and planned to look into the allegations. —Elyse Ashburn

[Update: University officials have temporarily suspended the “Category I” list and plan to appoint an investigative panel to suggest ways to ensure that admissions decisions are not subject to political pressure, the Tribune reported this afternoon.]