Hardly- unexpected disgust with the revealed agenda to ban the Three-in-One performance has resulted.

The longevity and singularity of the Chief tradition aside, the enduring nature of the Chief and his related issues can be explained by a history of back-door dealing, assaults on free speech, an Chicago-based subterfuge.



Familiar names and faces continue to impose themselves. Why the TASSers at the DI can at this point can even remotely consider Robert Warrior a credible commentator  for any matter at all is quite...interesting. Lest they forget on our behalf, in emails from FOIA requests by SFCI regarding Assembly Hall rentals for unofficial performances and the shadowy attempt to prevent them, Warrior wrote to Romano and Gonzalez, complaining that displays about the anti-chief movement had been damaged, in addition to other libels and claims so vile, even Gonzalez wouldn't touch. Afterwards, Warrior confessed that said actions were actually perpetrated by his own people in attempt to castigate chief supporters. "Incitement to resentment' indeed!






Concurrent with the Chief's "retirement," were mandates by ex-state senator and Blagojevich ally Emil Jones' shakedown demands that the university cease and the punish all future performances of the Chief or face the wrath of a cut in state funding (which happened anyway). Observers were quick to ignore Jones' strong-arming of the U of ILL and instead focus on NCAA sanctions-that is until the Tribune showed how Jones and steered in excess of 50 million dollars to Chicago State University, which in a statement to the Tribune, even its president was unequipped to explain. But Jones’ had little to fear since the entire Board of Trustee save one was comprised of Blagojevian appointments, and none, save one were from outside Crook County. A back door shakedown of trustees by Epply, and Jones’ own oppressive avatar, Francis Carroll lead the Illinois Press Association to declare the BOT and the U of ILL leadership winners of its annual "“Worsty”' awards for its skullduggery. In the due course of time, all involved with the Star Chamber passage of death on the Chief, from White, Herman, Carroll, Eppley, and the others were later implicated and revealed in the now-infamous U of ILL/Chicago-based Clout Scandal.






President and serial Clouter, BJ White, saw fit (as later revealed by the Sun-Times entitled "Something Smells and it's Not Roses) to reward handsomely his brand of leadership during the Chief retirement. Indeed, free VIP Championship Game Rose Bowl tickets were handed round, personally approved by White to Jones, Eppley, Carroll, Montgomery, and of course convicted felon Rod Blagojevich.

Coupled with censorship attempts by Herman during homecoming parades, music professors pushing to make opinions on the Chief a deciding factor in student admissions, and acts by Renee Romano and others to suppress appearances by Chief supporters, and now the most recent action by unnamed (despite FIOA requests) personnel ordering Houser to send patrols and students home from Marching Illini practice if they were apparel with Chief iconography, it is no wonder a strong support of stopping these initiatives is in place.


Ignoring the debate of the yet-to-be-proven claim of "racism" regarding the Chief, the manner and methods of the leadership, faculty, state, BOT and been consistently linked to the proverbial hip of censorship, duplicity, and Chicago corruption. And as long as that shadow alliance remains, the resistance thus seen will undoubtedly continue.


Posted by Hound No. 7

The U of ILL has announced it will appeal the earlier ruling concerning the release of students names on the Category I list. Posted by No. 6

Veteran's Day

It is veterans day today where we honor those who take of the uniform of defenders of our freedom. Today, that comes from an unlikely source-the Daily Illini with no less than three articles espousing the importance of our service men and women.

In one such article is the revelation of the U of ILL's hostility to making veterans collegiate experience an adequate one. No news here, as the UI has a long history of laying veterans on the sidelines. Yet, if the TASSers in the DI had done their job properly in the past, the University of ILL's poor standings in the Best for Vets list would come as no revelation.

No doubt the sycophantic praise of veterans and pro-veteran policies-both of which the DI has abhorred since 2001, is the result of verbal, and (if its copious advertising for the Global Campus fiasco is of any indication) a very likely monetary directive.

Yet the DI all but ignored the revelations back in 2007 when the University of ILL conspired to revoke and remove its promised MBA scholarships to veterans in the College of Business. Championed by Rob Van der Hooning with support of Pat Quinn and Rahm Emanuel, the scholarship program was removed by administrator's including BJ White, Herman, Ghosh, DeBrock, and Ikenberry (David). White later used his position and via then-Chancellor Sylvia Manning to weed out Van der Hooning. When he objected to the railroading of the veterans who were promised, not to mention the unethical actions by we have all come to expect now by the clout-filled crowd, he was illegally fired.

We could go on, but for a much better summary, read it at Marathon Pundit.

Ghosh's rationale that there were "too many jar heads" and his attempt to run them out of the program by bumping up deadline dates without informing the applicants, besides being underhanded, strikes us as pandering as well. After seeing the racist and hate-filled harangues concerning veterans coming from the likes of employees such 9/11 "Truther" David Green (who now has sunk to a new low accusing veterans of enlisting just because "they think it's cool to blow people away) , or even DI employees such as Chelsea Fiddyment or Amy Allen, we are left with no doubt exactly who the administrators concerned are pandering to.

More telling is the status of those involved: the ethically-challenged BJ White is now continuing to extort the taxpayers behind a near-invincible fortress of tenure. Ghosh is imperator now of economic development, not to mention clout appointments of state senators' spouses. DeBrock now is dean of the College of Business, and one of the clout masters.

Meanwhile the DI only printed a few words from Van der Hooning, and an entire accusation from Robin Kaler. The TASSers at the DI spout their false praise for the day, knee deep in their own complicity.

Posted by Hound No. 9

One Ikenberry Enough for Now

Interim President of the U of ILL, Stan Ikenberry, personally scuttled an expensive project, that would put a large statue of himself in the renovated Ikenberry Commons (formerly the so-called “Six Pack” dormitory bloc). Ikenberry’s rationale for the move, said Tom Hardy, was "he didn't want to generate any ill will toward the university or put the university in an embarrassing situation."

We very much had to chuckle at the irony of this. From clout, to cover-up, to numerous free speech violations, to underhanded dealing, to discrimination, to insider advancement, etc. It would be awfully presumptious for any member or part of the university to believe the UI has any angstrom of ethics and credibility left to protect.

Nevertheless, Ikenberry should be applauded for his decision in this matter, and we wish that he and other would follow suit more often.

Posted by Alpha Hound

New President a Conn Man

The typically non-transparent U of ILL committee meetings have announced the replacement for former, disgraced, BJ White.

University of Connecticut president, Michael Hogan will take over as the new leader of the UofI as of July 1, 2010.

Posted by Hound No. 6

The news of the week has been, of course, Mayor Jerry Schweighart's well-publicized, and woefully moronic 'birther" opinion that Barack Obama has been less than forthright with the original copy of his birth certificate.

The comments are certainly ignorant and demonstrate he has the brains of a sheep (no disrespect intended. We know many sheep dogs, and many sheep. Most sheep we know are just meek and need something to flock to), but hardly novel. Remember please, that this is the state of ILL, and in the last year, there has been no shortage of dumb utterances.

For example, here are some from ILL alone in just the past year that you may remember:

“There's no secret clout list.” -B. Joseph White lying about the admissions scandal that, as the Tribune so poetically put it,"sunk his presidency." (The skunk's claim was later discredited after emails of his own lobbying for Tony Rezko's family members surfaced)

”All admissions... should be based on merit .” -White again. Anyone who was familiar with his thoughts and actions regarding his work during and after at the University of Michigan can spot this fib easily.

“It's very confusing to the University and the community."-Renee Romano insulting the intelligence of the average citizen of ILL,after being caught attempting to limit free speech of those who support retired Chief Illiniwek.

-Students aren’t qualified -Jarred Hall equally capricious of students (he himself is one, by the way...) who dared think critically of the University after the DI posted a list of faculty and employee salaries.

“You never asked” -Roland Burris explaining why he committed perjury during his testimony about the sale of his senate seat.

“I don't that's a productive use of my time - Dick Durbin explaining why he would not meet with his own constituents.


And here are some other winners:

"The system worked." -Janet Napalitano when the only reason people were not killed by the Christmas Day bomber was his hands were in his underpants.

"Baby Killer!"- Rep. Randy Neugebauer to Michigan Representative Bart Stupak.

"I don't worry about the Constitution on this."- Phil Hare on the Constitution's limits of congressional power. (Hare also pulled a DI and could not tell the difference between the Declaration of Independence)

“...acted stupidly- Barack Obama's description of a police officer in Cambridge responded to a burglary report.


And of course

"I don't think he is American, personally.“ -Jerry Schweighart


Schweightt's claim was ignorant and unnecessary. But it was hardly the only one.

Posted by Alpha Hound

Another Clout Scandal.

Gotcha!

This one is not a ILL related Clout Scandal. This one occurs at the home of criminal at large, Charles Steger.

Whereas at ILL connections to administrators will help you gain admission, at Virginia Tech your relation to administrators means someone else will get shot instead of you.

Posted by Hound No. 3

Herman too

Herman's long-overdue resignation came this week, marking the fall (or pithy demotion, as it were) of another conspirator of the admission scandal.

Naturally Herman blames all but himself, and his toads in the faculty and money brokers are quick to remind us of his "accomplishments' as chancellor and provost. Such as providing incentives to low-income student applicants. Of course, Herman has done nothing to make college more affordable to anyone, much less the less-fortunate. Indeed for someone who get paid almost a half-million dollar income a year plus severance and compensation, yet constantly screams on the hardships facing higher-ed, we have to wonder what exactly the kind of help he has brought. Considering that tuition is now roughly 6.5% in advance, what possible justification could Herman's devoted sycophants have to tout his contribution to improving the lives of any member of the university other than his own cabal?

Ironic that according to University press release, Herman will join the College of Education. There he will join another disgraced criminal administrator-turned teacher, Gene Amberg. Not to mention the rest of the golden-parachute faculty including:

Avijit Ghosh
Heidi Hurd
Larry DeBrock
B.J. White

Posted by Hound No. 6

Bye Bye BJ

The main news of the day is the resignation of Bernie White (the News-Gazette's
"White Out" was a headlined article worth lamination.) Resignation seems a bit inadequate, given his role in ruining the UI. He still will be considered faculty, which we owe White's appointment to the University in the first place. Ostracizing from the ILL would be more appropriate.

Nevertheless, this ranks among several other great days. Like this one. And this one.

Posted by Hound No. 3

After delay and much skepticism, the UI Faculty-Student (in that order) Senate voted 98-55 (almost a 2-1) margin on a resolution to remove White and Herman from the University.

White's defense was that he was only responsible because he was the superior administrator. Never once did White make any mention that he had testified at the Mikva inquiries that he was using his position to admit extended family members.

Though non-binding, this vote surely will put significant pressure on the new Board of Trustees.

However, this resolution leaves some noticeable gaps, especially the involvement of people such as Ghosh, DeBrock, Hurd, Hardy, and Kaler.

Posted by Hound No. 9

The TASSers over at the DI live up to their textbook definition in a piece of journalism malpractice on Wednesday. First, they printed what they generously refer to as a question and answer with BJ White, considering the fact that White did not answer anything. In this pathetic tete-a-tete, not once did they ever even bring up the fact that White was using his position to lobby for special admissions for his own family members.



Posted by Hound No. 9

Governor Quinn has decided that he is not interested in running Francis Carol nor Montgomery out of town after they played the race card, with the assistance of ILL local race-baiter Bobby Rush.

Meanwhile he has appointed Chris Kennedy, who has no relation whatsoever to the U of I. Also appointed Lawerence Oliver, who was appointed to the state's Executive Ethics Commission in 2004. By Whom? Rod Blagojevich, of course.

Business as usual.

Posted by Hound No. 6

"Signs" of Things to Come

After listening to the diatribes of Trustees, administrators and even TASSer faculty, we finally hear the response to the clout scandal by those who it affects the most:


The students.


The signs, as the DI reports, appeared to be directed at Richard Herman alone. Messages contained therein include, "Fire Herman," and "Chancellor Herman: Admissions Denied."

A little blurb can be found here as well about the posters. The reporter makes a interesting point about students not usually paying attention to matters such as these. As she points out, however, there seems to be interest in this particular case. Perhaps it is because

• It is tied with Blagojevich and his scandals which hardly any member of ILL could ignore.

• Herman, already detested by his own student body for his attacks on free speech (which he later reversed due to pressure, including that by FIRE).

These, of course, are mere conjectures. It will be a long while until we find the truth. And wherever we find the truth, we can be certain that it will be nowhere near Herman.

Posted by Hound No. 9

Reform of Admission Process: White in Action

BJ White held a conference of administrators, chancellors, deans, and admissions officials on how to fix (as if it was not fixed to begin with) the UI clout list. Once again, White sends out his ad nauseam and empty promise of "transparency."

Did we forget to mention the conference was behind closed doors?


Posted by Hound No. 6

People of Illinois: You are a waste of time

These are the words of Dick the Dick Durbin as he scoffs at meeting his own constituency in our home town of ILL. Meeting with them is, Durbin says, "not a constructive use of my time."

A time that we coercively pay for.

Durbin says he is meeting with more important people central to the "discussion" on nationalized health care including his overlords in the teacher unions whom he rewarded earlier in the year as high executioner of the D.C. school voucher program. Others included those without health insurance (namely illegal immigrants), and doctors (maybe? As David Scott seemed to think, doctors may not qualify as constituents. Or doctors).

Meanwhile, NBC-Chicago has an amusing posting on Dick the Dick's latest harangue-especially as it points out that Durbin has managed to piss off his own heard of sheep over the public option takeover.

On one final note, while Durbin may find us all a waste of time and care no more of us than dogs (or Hounds) being run over in the street, he has made time to help his staffer's daughter prepare to get through the UI admissions process.

Posted by Alpha Hound

Future of UI, Black?

Is the future of the University of Illinois black? Perhaps there will be a Black in its future, as state representative Bill Black has requested to be named as a Board of Trustee member since the fallout of the Admissions scandal.

We believe that Bill Black has been a well-established voice of the community in downstate ILL and believe as a result he will be an excellent voice on the board. Given too, his proximity to his constituency (and hence, the university) we would support him.

Black has previously said that "When I think they [the University administration] are wrong, I'm going to say so."

We hope so.

And yet, we have trepidations, since we feel Black will not send those responsible with their tails between their legs. His "no preconceived notions" of the culpability of White, Herman, etc. and his necessitating of examination in "and orderly fashion and with due process" worries us. The latter, no. The former yes.

It surpasses the bounds of belief that Black can have no preconceived notions of White nor Herman's unethical behavior. If the results of the Mikva report are not sufficient in its own right, then what? Perhaps White's admission of pushing for family member entrance via his official position (an obvious violation of UI ethics policy)? Or perhaps Herman's grudging acquiescence that Hurd's "facetious" nonsensical ramblings were indeed genuine ("Sometimes a plow is a plow," as Mikva himself observed)?

Black is up to the task of leading the university no question, but that cannot be seriously undertaken until the obstacles that prevent that are removed. Right now that is White, Herman, Hurd, Ghosh, DeBrock, Hardy, Kaler, et al. Unless the darkness that engulfs the Unversity now is disinfected with transparency and new light, there is no sense in adding more Black.

Posted by Hound No. 6

Comission Findings

The findings of the committee chaired by Abner Mikva regarding the illegal admission actions by UI officials have been approved today, and we are waiting to view the text of the forty-five page report once it becomes available.

Highlights we overheard from WDWS include the resolution that Pat Quinn should call for the resignation of the complete body of the Board of Trustees. Trustees Shah and Larry Eppley have already given up the ghost.

Also, minor details of the report leave rebuking remarks that White and Herman both had willfully tampered and engaged in unethical acts unbecoming of university leaders. While the commission unfortunately does not in itself call for their complete and immediate ostracism, it does recommend that the new board have a complete and thorough review of them.

We hope to add more information, commentary, and citations as, once again, the commission report becomes available.

Posted by Hound No. 6

Update

The News Gazette now has the story with a link to the findings of the comission report.


As the story implies, blame goes around to several administrators including Herman (obviously), White (even more obvious), DeBrock (who we warned you all about several weeks ago), and Hurd (who's behavior has become even more guilt-ridden and erratic)

There will be a look at each player in the future now that the report is out.

Posted by Hound No. 6

More Clout at UI

State Senator Michael Frerichs has apparently joined the clout list at the UI. Although denying any involvement, Frerichs' wife has a now six-figure income job at the UI college of business.

Not that this any surprise at the UI of lately, but it certainly is suspicious. to be fair, over at IlliniPundit, there is skepticism that this would be an issue if not for the selling of admissions at the UI. But by the same line of thought, it would not be an issue if there was no admissions scandal (which there certainly is).

Posted by Hound No. 3

***Update***
Hound No. 3 incorrectly posted that Laura Frerichs' position is in the College of Business, something also incorrectly posted on IlliniPundit. Frerich's new position is actually in Administration, not CoB. We apologize for the error and misinformation.

Posted by Alpha Hound

You Dunnit

The admissions scandal (no doubt to the dismay and frustration of the UI administration) has gone well beyond the fenced yard of ILL and to California following Linda Katehi.



In an article for the UC Davis, White comes to the defense of Katehi, at the expense of... Richard Herman?



But first this selection:

"I do not believe that Provost's (my, aren't we possessive, White?) Katehi (it goes here, you know) bane has appeared in the press for the simple reason that she had no involvement in admissions cases that are fueling the controversy," White wrote in an email to [president] Yudof.

That is quite a declaration from a man who originally claimed that there was
no controversy, nor where there any admissions classified as Category I. Either
White has finally come to find out what happens on his own campus, or his pithy
attempt at denial has ceased to be effective even to himself.

The most curious part of White's testimony, however, comes next:

"The reason [she had no involvement] is that the chancellor [emphasis added] handled these matters directly with the admissions director and, in some cases, the deans."

Sorry Herman, BANG!

Posted by Hound No. 6