In addition to the more normal stories out of Illinois, like selling Senate seats and imprisoning governors, another scandal has popped up recently in the Land of Lincoln. This one involves the use of clout to get kids into the University of Illinois. The Chicago Tribune has been pushing this story big time lately, putting it on the front page whenever possible.
Personally, though, I find it hard to get all that worked up over this story for several reasons. In my opinion Illinois has much bigger problems to worry about than a limited number of students, perhaps a few hundred, who might have gotten into the University of Illinois over a period of years when they would not have otherwise been admitted. I understand that it is very unfortunate for those who did not get in because of these "clout kids," but consider:
Our state legislature adjourned last month until who knows when without addressing Illinois’ severe budget problems. The legislators cobbled something together so they could get out of town, promising to come back in January. The idea was that, once they know who their primary opponents are, maybe some of them will do what is necessary and pass a temporary increase in the state income tax. Until then, however, those who provide goods and services to the state will find their payments delayed even more. Programs for the poor will be cut. The underfunding of our state pension system will get bigger. And the fiscal hole the state is in will get deeper.
But while they couldn’t pass a decent state budget, the General Assembly did pass a $29 billion construction program – and authorized a massive expansion of video gambling throughout the state to pay for it. Now, any bar or other establishment with a liquor license will be able to install up to five video gambling machines. The poor are already the biggest losers in the casinos and the Lottery. Now the state will take even more money from them. Who cares if it is immoral, it’s easier than raising taxes.
And if education is your concern, instead of worrying about a few hundred students at the University of Illinois, consider the tens of thousands of students who have to go to the Chicago public schools each year. The education they receive, or lack thereof, is a much bigger scandal than anything happening at the U of I.
And then there is the final reason I can’t get too worked up over the situation at the U of I: All of this outrage over big shots allegedly using their clout to get kids admitted to the U of I, thereby keeping more qualified students out, is based on the idea that colleges really have objective standards to decide who gets in and who doesn’t. But that’s not true. While it is clear for most of those who apply whether they get in or don’t, on the margins it is almost entirely subjective. Whether you are accepted or not can depend on how the person reading your essay or reviewing your application happens to feel that day. I read once where an admissions officer said that the decision came down to which applicant would add the most to the university. Huh? What does that mean? It sounds like admission office gobbledygook to me. The normal admission process is such a big, subjective crap shoot that it is hard to see how an occasional attempt by a politician to put in a good word for this student or that makes it all that much worse.
And it is even harder to get worked up about it when Illinois has problems, even educational problems, that are much worse and much bigger – problems which our leaders are ignoring because they are unwilling to make hard decisions that might be politically difficult.
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