B. Joseph White, president of the University of Illinois, announced today that he would resign, effective December 31. Mr. White, who was enmeshed in an admissions scandal entailing preferential treatment for politically connected applicants, will remain involved in fund raising and teaching, the university said in a written statement.
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8 Responses to U. of Illinois President Says He Will Step Down
rmelton5 - September 23, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Another one bites the dust.
scatlin - September 23, 2009 at 4:57 pm
It is truely sad to see a great, visionary leader forced out over a media created farce. So what if a few students were admitted upon recommendation of someone who might know of their ability to be successful. Did anyone report on the success of those with “tainted” admission? And all the politicians support the lynching for one reason….to prevent people from looking closely at the sham “reform” measures they support in the legislature.
willynilly - September 23, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Mr. White’s decision is long overdue. Once again we were all able to see how futile and ill advised it is for any president to try to ride out a scandalous storm in which he was known to be an eager and willing participant. The best response is an immediate resignation and an even faster departure from the institution – being unavailable for any further contact or comment. To attempt to remain in office, only opens the gates for further ridicule, insults, negative institutional publicity and pressure to “get out” from quarters not previously even imagined. That is what awaits all lingering but mortally wounded (career-wise) presidens who fail to accept the fact that it is over.
hughtoo - September 23, 2009 at 5:20 pm
We seem to me to have reached the regrettable condition in this country where any offense by any prominent person requires his or her immediate dismissal, regardless of the severity of the offense. Think Elliot Spitzer, Newt Gingrich, Don Imus, and (alsmost) President Clinton. What this executive did was wrong, but was there no less severe sanction that would have satisfied all the constituents’ sense of justice? A temporary suspension at no pay? A public reprimand by the Trustees or faculty senate? A public apology and major contribution to the University or a charitable organization? Something? Anything?
petersimmons - September 23, 2009 at 5:36 pm
A president can’t be “a little corrupt” any more than she can be “a little pregnant.” Equal treatment toward all applicants for admission is an important administrative value; special treatment for the politically powerful is not aceptable at public institutions. Perhaps this president belongs at a private school where these things are common-place. Byron Smyrd
petersimmons - September 23, 2009 at 5:37 pm
A president can’t be “a little corrupt” any more than she can be “a little pregnant.” Equal treatment toward all applicants for admission is an important administrative value; special treatment for the politically powerful is not aceptable at public institutions. Perhaps this president belongs at a private school where these things are common-place. Byron Smyrd
11216278 - September 23, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Good point, Petersimmons, but bad analogy. A person can be a little bit pregnant, quite a bit pregnant, or , er, fully pregnant. If you don’t believe it, read the decision of the U S Supreme Court in Roe versus Wade.
weberatou - September 24, 2009 at 10:42 am
In this dicussion, what seems to be missing is what, if any, effect granting admission to “connected” applicants had on other students. In other words, if a student was admitted as the result of some sort of political or financial advantage, did that eliminate some other, perhaps better qualified, student? If so, the impact is much more severe than if admitting a student on that basis simply increaed the freshman class size. If we are dealing with a rare resource, an example being admitted to medical school, the process should be carefully monitored. A decision to admit a student based on pressure that does not penalize someone else is, in my opinion, less egregious am act in this less than perfect world we all inhabit.