The University of Illinois admissions scandal, documented everwhere from Leiter's Law School Reports, to TaxProf, from ATL to WSJ Law Blog continues to reverberate. Now the past and present dean are speaking out, each with their own goal. Former Dean Heid Hurd wrote a letter to the editor to the News-Gazette attempting to clarify what seemed (to me, at least) obviously sarcastic comments.
Contrary to recent headlines, the College of Law did not seek or receive any jobs from anyone in exchange for the admission of students. It did not enter into a “jobs-for-entry scheme” or engage in quid-pro-quo exchanges of admissions favors for employment favors. Indeed, it takes very little to make clear that the employment challenges of students who are not academically successful could never be overcome by anyone’s promises to furnish the College with job opportunities, as the recently published exchanges should have made clear. While my sarcasm was clearly lost on the tin ears of some reporters, my email exchanges in response to queries about this were on their face facetious.
In reply to a question about what jobs would count to meet the employment needs of students with poor academic predictors but powerful personal connections, I wrote: “Only very high paying jobs in law firms that are absolutely indifferent to whether the five have passed their law school classes or the Bar.” There are, of course, no law firms of this sort. Only students who pass law school classes can receive law degrees; only those with law degrees can take the Bar; and only those who pass the Bar are eligible to practice law. And when asked whether such students might find employment in government positions, I was being equally sarcastic when I replied: “I’m betting the Governorship will be open. One of them can have that job. Other jobs in Government are fine, since kids who don’t pass the Bar and can’t think are close enough for government work.” Inasmuch as I was a public servant at the time that I made these comments and have long been a scholar and teacher of political theory, my dismissive response was designed to convey the view that government, no less than private practice, requires the best and brightest.
I would never have thought that anyone could take these statements as straight-faced and derive from them the claim that the University of Illinois College of Law actually exchanged admissions for “patronage jobs”.
Meanwhile, attempting to limit the damage of these news reports, current Dean Bruce Smith wrote a letter to alumni and friends stating:
In recent weeks, certain press reports have suggested that the University of Illinois College of Law has been subjected to undue external influence with respect to the admission of students. Such reports understandably capture the public’s attention, but they fail to capture the true character and excellence of the College of Law....Let me be clear: I would not welcome — nor would any dean welcome — undue external influence in the admissions process.
Image: Heidi Hurd.
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