The Chicago Tribune sued the University of Illinois on Wednesday in federal court to compel the release of the names of applicants’ parents and their political patrons in an admissions scandal that roiled the university last year. The university contends that the names are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law that protects student privacy.
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3 Responses to Newspaper Sues U. of Illinois for Names in Admissions Scandal
snwiedmann - January 29, 2010 at 7:48 am
I now have a new example of chutzpah! You engage in an activity that is morally questionable at the least (and perhaps criminal), but then you want to use another law to try to hide your action?!
evansrwe - January 29, 2010 at 9:33 am
What is the value in raking the “victims” of this inappropriate activity through the mud? In most cases, they probably didn’t ask for special treatment, and I would bet that in some cases they didn’t even know they got it. The practice has been ended, the perps ousted (at least those that allowed it), and if they were truly unqualified, the “benefactors” have already paid the price. Why prolong the debate with the identity of perhaps innocent parties. Now those who asked that special treatment be given, that’s a different story.
pwherry - January 29, 2010 at 2:52 pm
I agree with #2 (except for the word in quotes). Not all of the “beneficiaries” may have known interest was exerted on their behalf, some of them may have been perfectly well qualified anyway, and those who weren’t qualified have probably already flunked out. Law enforcement has the tools to punish those who sought undue influence; even if the press did identify a few of them, does that guarantee that law enforcement has the resources to prosecute these white-collar offenses? Perhaps the Trib (which seems never to miss a chance to harrass the UI) feels that persecution is an acceptable substitute for prosecution. Release the names and then the Trib will want to see test scores and GPAs, which CLEARLY are FERPA-protected. There was always less here than meets the eye (even to this cynical former UI employee). It’s time for the Trib to move on.