A Bunch of Times - Part 3

Yesterday, Regent Blum released a statement  concerning the scandal of admissions letters we have reported on in prior posts.* The release is below:

Statement by Richard Blum regarding letters of recommendation for University of California applicants

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Richard Blum 

Sep 26, 2020, 12:57 ET

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- "Over the last 18 years, I have written more than a dozen letters of recommendation for applicants seeking admission to the University of California. I forwarded those letters to the Office of the Chancellors.

"On no occasion did I receive feedback that that was not the appropriate protocol and that letters needed to be sent to the Director of Admissions.

"Moreover, I was never informed about whether any of the applicants for whom I wrote letters were later accepted for admission and I never inquired about the ultimate decisions in these cases.

"I respect the findings and concerns reflected in the audit. It was never my intention to circumvent or unfairly influence the admissions process. I do not intend to write letters of recommendation going forward."

Media Contact:

Owen Blicksilver

Lambert

Oblicksilver@lambert.com 

516-742-5950

Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/statement-by-richard-blum-regarding-letters-of-recommendation-for-university-of-california-applicants-301138572.html

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Note 1: The Lambert firm releasing this statement has a website indicating it is an "investor relations" and "public relations" company: https://lambert.com/firm-overview/. Owen Blicksilver - the media contact - is identified as company president: https://lambert.com/team/owen-blicksilver/.

Note 2: This matter now leaks over into the political realm since Blum is the husband of Senator Dianne Feinstein who will be the senior Democrat at the upcoming hearings on the recent Supreme Court nominee. It also might have some effect - although it is not clear in which direction - on Prop 16 (ending ban on affirmative action, especially UC admissions).

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*Prior postings are at http://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2020/09/a-bunch-of-times-part-2.html and http://uclafacultyassociation.blogspot.com/2020/09/a-bunch-of-times.html.