President White gives in to scandal's pressures

CHICAGO -Embattled University of Illinois President B. Joseph White has told trustees he will step down at the end of the year.In a letter to the board Wednesday, White said he will resign effective Dec. 31, but plans to remain involved with the university through fundraising and teaching.

White submitted his letter of resignation Board of Trustees Chair Christopher G. Kennedy, who accepted it for consideration by the full board.

White, 62, has served as president of the university since January 2005 but has been dogged the last several months by an admissions scandal.

White had earlier informed Gov. Pat Quinn of his decision. "I think it's time to move forward, our university to continue to move on," the governor said.

"I think President White is doing what's best for the university and I think the people of Illinois are grateful to him," Quinn continued. "I commend him for taking steps necessary to move the university forward."

Quinn said the board will select an interim president "shortly" to steer the school while it conducts a search for a permanent replacement.

"I think it's important a new president is someone who can inspire confidence, who has integrity, has a commitment to students and teaching," Quinn said. "I also think it's important to be able to get the resources for the university from the federal government, from private endowments."

Kennedy, speaking before the letter was submitted, praised White for his years in public service.

"I don't take any joy or pleasure in President White's resignation," Kennedy said. "I think it's a terrible toll this process has had on a lot of people. I think the choice to go into a public life which is the life of a university president of a university system that's as large as the University of Illinois puts him at great risk. He took that risk to serve other people and, you know, he's suffering for it now. But I think very highly of him and wish him well in whatever he does."

Last week, U. of I. faculty and student leaders urged that White and Chancellor Richard Herman be replaced in the wake of a far-reaching admissions scandal.

The Senate's 98-55 vote encouraged an "orderly transition to new leadership" at the president and chancellor level. While the vote was non-binding, it was embarrassing for the two officials and signaled weakened leadership at the university's highest ranks.

The resolution stated that changing the admissions policies, without a change in leadership, will not be sufficient in restoring the university's reputation.

"It was the consensus of the Senate that it was necessary to make a strong statement today," said Senate Executive Committee chair Joyce Tolliver, who earlier in the meeting laid out her case for why the group shouldn't vote that way.

The vote Sept. 14 came hours after the U. of I. Board of Trustees announced it would spend the next two months reviewing the performance of top school officials. A three-member committee is to report back to the full board in 60 days, a deadline that coincides with the board's next meeting Nov. 12.

The Chicago Tribune revealed in May that U. of I. had a shadow admissions system for well-connected students that allowed applicants sponsored by trustees, lawmakers and others to be admitted over more qualified students.

Speaking to the full Senate before its vote, White and Herman both defended their records, offering a balance sheet of their accomplishments while acknowledging failures in the admissions area.

White said he has worked for 4{ years to protect the university from external pressures, including standing behind admissions denials, not backing down when former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office wanted a report killed, and not balking when a senior Blagojevich aide berated him for not supporting the gross receipt tax proposal.

"The notion that I would submit to pressure -or apply pressure -for admissions or anything else in order to please the high and mighty is dead wrong. I never did," White said.

Herman told faculty members to remember the work he has done to better their careers. He said that he disagreed with country singer Kenny Rogers' assessment that 'the best you can hope for is to die in your sleep.' "

"The best we can hope for is to be judged by the fullness of our lives and accomplishments, and that is what I ask for today," he said.

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(c) 2009, Chicago Tribune.