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MS: Ethics and Reform

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* Commission Will Issue U of I Admissions Report

The special commission investigating the admissions process at the University of Illinois is scheduled to issue their report to Governor Pat Quinn, Thursday.[…]

Panel Chair Abner Mikva says members will make a recommendation regarding the Board of Trustees.

MIKVA: All of the trustees ought to submit their resignations to the Governor and the Governor should decide which of any he wants to appoint.

* Quinn promises action ‘quickly’ on U of I board

Gov. Pat Quinn is promising action “very quickly” after he gets the final report from a commission that examined the admissions scandal at the University of Illinois.

* Ex-dean calls herself ‘victim’ of admissions scandal

Heidi Hurd — who testified before the Illinois Admission Review Commission nearly a month ago — sent a 15-page letter late last week in which she describes herself as a “victim” of the school’s clout lists, not a “perpetrator,” and details her efforts to push back against them.

She also supports her earlier assertions that Chancellor Richard Herman and public officials abused their power when they forced her to admit subpar students.

Commissioners will weigh the letter against a voice mail message Hurd left on Herman’s home phone shortly after she testified. University attorneys turned over the message to the commission, officials said.

According to a transcript, Hurd refers to Herman as a “knight in shining armor” and says she remains his “most ardent admirer.”

* Secretary of State official touts reforms

The Illinois secretary of state’s inspector general visited two Metro East drivers facilities on Wednesday and showcased reform efforts to root out corruption.

“We want the public to know that there is zero tolerance for corruption or unethical behavior,” said Jim Burns, the inspector general who formerly served as U.S. attorney for northern Illinois.

The office was beset by corruption allegations in the 1990s. Former Gov. George Ryan was convicted in 2006 of a series of federal charges stemming from his tenure as secretary of state in that era, including racketeering and fraud.

* A Good, Clean Campaign

Although it’s been barely 200 days since the legislature was sworn in, this week marked the start of candidate petition season. When candidates turn in their petitions around Halloween, election authorities will ask them to submit a bunch of other papers as well, including, Statements of Economic Interest, political fundraising disclosures, and the Code of Fair Campaign Practices.

posted by Mike Murray
Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 9:54 am

Comments

Anyone hear about a ethics hearing about Froehlich?

Comment by Boscobud Thursday, Aug 6, 09 @ 1:25 pm