UI Faces Legal Action from Student Denied Admission

The University of Illinois is facing its first lawsuit stemming from the role clout played in the school's admissions policy.

The scandal has already forced the University's President and the Urbana-Champaign campus chancellor to step down. Now a Taylorville man, Jonathon Yard, is taking the school to court. Yard's suit could become a federal class action case. He alleges he was unfairly denied access to the U of I.

The court papers go on to say Yard had a solid academic background, which was part of admissions requirements the university cited. But the suit points out the school failed to mention the existence of a clout list, which favored those with political connections.

Yard's attorney Larry Drury says he is are alleging the university has criteria on which they accept applicants other than that which is stated in their catalogs and brochures.

An investigation determined some on that clout list were accepted even though they lacked other qualifications.

A university spokesman says the school anticipated such actions and is prepared to vigorously defend the U of I.