Mixed reaction from University students and faculty members is greeting the University's acknowledgment that a student's potential to donate money to the University has been used as a factor in admissions.
According to documents obtained by The Cavalier Daily, the College's development office tracks about 30 applicants based on how much their friends and relatives may be able to donate to the University. Although this admissions practice is not new to the University, the admissions office had not made this policy known to the public.
"It does look a little bit suspicious because this process has been kept quiet," University Judiciary Committee Rep. Jonathan Carr said. "The admissions board should have been a little more forthright about it."
Dean of Admissions John A. Blackburn had said he considers the possible donations an applicant's parents may give only in the context of the student's overall credentials, but he admitted there are a few cases where he would change the decision if he thought it would benefit the University.
"It would bother me if I thought the admissions office were being influenced to admit someone that they otherwise would not have, but that does not appear to be the case," Astronomy Prof. Charles Tolbert said.
Student Council President Taz Turner said although contributions are essential to the University, it "doesn't mean [one student] should be accepted any more than another."
Student Council Rep. Nathan A. Cook said the practice is fine as long as these applicants meet the general criteria for admission.
"It is through donations like the ones they may bring with them that allow us to enjoy the privilege of a top-ranked university," Cook said.
Turner and Ronnie Washington, Student Council executive vice president, agreed that admitting students who potentially may fund the University benefits not only the admitted student but also the other members of the student body because of the financial resources they provide.
In reality, "a university has to look out for its future because it lives in the real world," said Larry J. Sabato, government and foreign affairs professor.
Some community members said the disclosure of the documents sheds light on the ongoing debate over the University's admissions policies.
"I think that the revelations that have come out ... present even more evidence that we should have an admissions process based strictly on merit," College Republicans Chairman John Blair said.
University Democrats President Ashley McDonald said disclosing admissions policies causes people to focus "more on factors other than merit" and now "we may discuss the race-conscious admissions in a different light."
Business Ethics Prof. Patricia Werhane said the Darden School faces a similar problem as the College when admitting students.
The admissions board at the Darden School of Business "has very little scholarship money, so [its members] couldn't accept all the students who must have financial aid," Werhane said. "In that way, we're discriminating."
Despite the reasons behind the practice, wealthy people should not be given even more privileges in admissions, Sabato said.
"People born with a silver spoon in their mouth really don't need any extra advantages," he said.
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