Illinois Memorial at the Vicksburg National Battlefield

Modeled after the Panthenon, the most impressive of the state memorials within the Vicksburg National Military Park honors the Illinois soldiers who took part in the campaign to capture the "Gibraltar of the Confederacy."

Leading up to the monument are 47 steps, one for each day of the siege.

Engraved inside the dome the names of each of the 36,325 Illinoisans who participated in this key battle.

Here's what Marlo Carter Fitzpatrick wrote about the memorial in Mississippi Off The Beaten Path:

Of the thousands of names listed, two are of particular interest. Fred Grant, the general's twelve-year-old son, is listed as his aide. Also listed is Albert D. Cashire, who served throughout the Vicksburg campaign. When Cahsire was hospitalized years later he was discovered to be a she--an immigrant named Jennie Hodgers, who had masqueraded as a man for nearly half a century.

Click here for Colonel Austin Bay's post on Vicksburg and the 26th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

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Marathon Pundit exclusive: Quinn's letter to U of I president about military scholarship scandal

The below letter has been authorized as authentic. Thanks to Marathon Pundit commenter R. Gerritt for submitting it last night under my blog comments section.

Thank you R. Gerritt, and thank you Lieutnenant Governor Quinn.

November 20, 2007

Dr. B. Joseph White
President, University of Illinois
364 Henry Administration Building, MC-346 506 S. Wright St
Urbana, Illinois 61801

Dear President White:

I am writing to express my continuing concern about the University of Illinois' Executive MBA program's treatment of our veterans.

On March 3, 2006, I joined Robert van der Hooning, then Assistant Dean for Professional and Executive Education at the University's College of Business, at a University of Illinois-sponsored luncheon to promote the College of Business' commitment to award free tuition for its Executive MBA Program to Illinois servicemembers who have served in the Global War on Terror. At that time, the University pledged to provide up to 110 full academic scholarships to the 20-month Executive MBA Program, including tuition, mandatory fees, books, meals, and lodging.

Since that promising beginning, I have been deeply disappointed by the University of Illinois' failure to fulfill its promise to our veterans. Instead of honoring our pledge to our veterans, the University ofIllinois has cut back on its promise.

I am writing this letter to formally request a full listing of all veterans who have thus far received the tuition waiver from the College of Business, along with a list of all veterans who have applied for an been denied admission and total enrollment numbers for the Executive MBA program over the last two years. I expect the University of Illinois to make good on its promise and set an example of ethical behavior for all of its students.

I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Pat Quinn Lt. Governor

cc: Dr. Richard Herman, Chancellor, UIUC
Members, University of Illinois Board of Trustees

Related Marathon Pundit posts:

Related posts:

Scandal update: Lt. Gov. Quinn wants count of vets in Univ. of Ill. MBA program

Broken promises: How "jarheads" got shunted aside at the University of Illinois: A Marathon Pundit series

Marathon Pundit Exclusive: What happened behind the scenes of the University of Illinois veteran scholarship scandal

University of Illinois: "Hookers are Praised as Soldiers" –Marathon Pundit's Third Investigative Report

University of Illinois military scholarships scandal update

Exclusive: Van der Hooning, and Illinois vets, get a hearing at the Court of Claims

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Quinn wants count of vets in Univ. of Ill. MBA program

Rich posted a blurb on Capitol Fax...Here is an extensive rundown on the University of Illinois military scholarship scandal.

Almost a year ago I made my first post on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (my alma mater) reneging on its promise to give 110 full-ride executive MBA scholarships to War on Terror vets.

The school's EMBA program is based in the Illini Center in Chicago's Loop, pictured above.

In March of 2006, with great fanfare, the university announced the scholarship offer. The understanding within the college, and among supportive public officials such as Lieutenant Governor Patrick Quinn and Rep. Rahm Emanuel, both Democrats, was that the scholarships would be given out immediately.

But as Robert van der Hooning told me many times over the months, the University of Illinois School of Business, led by its dean at the time, Dr. Avijit Ghosh, decided to "reverse-engineer" the process and admit significantly fewer veterans. Their fear was that expected share of the tuition costs. The IVG would be the primary funding source for those scholarships, the University of Illinois would pick up the rest.

The B-shool then rescinded on some scholarship offers--then un-rescinded some (after Quinn and Emanuel got involved) then rescinded some more.

After the dust settled, about 35 veterans, not 110, received scholarships for the 2006-07 school year. The balance, university officials promised, would be awarded over the next two years.

Well, it's year two, and I have received credible allegations that far fewer than the expected number of veteran scholarships were awarded to Illinios veterans this year.

Van der Hooning, who filed an ethics complaint about the chicanery, is no longer employed by the university. He's filed a suit against the school, and his case was recently heard by the Illinois Court of Claims in Chicago.

He's still keeping an eye on our veterans, as is Lt. Governor Quinn. He sent a strongly worded letter to Dr. Joseph White, the president of the University of Illinois, requesting a not only a count of veterans currently enrolled in the EMBA program, how many received scholarships, and how many vets were turned away by the state's flagship university.

And the local media is listening. WBBM-AM Chicago has already reported on the story, as has the Associated Press and below is an excerpt from their report:

"Since that promising beginning, I have been deeply disappointed by the University of Illinois' failure to fulfill its promise to our veterans," Quinn wrote. "Instead of honoring our pledge to our veterans, the University of Illinois has cut back on its promise."

University of Illinois spokeswoman Robin Kaler, noting that the person in charge of the scholarships is out of town, said the school hasn't responded yet to Quinn's letter. She wasn't sure how many scholarships have been awarded so far.

"They're working on a response," she said.

Quinn spokeswoman Elizabeth Austin said he wrote the letter after hearing from veterans in the program and others that the university isn't making good on its initial pledge of 110 scholarships.

Thank you, Mr. Quinn and Ms. Austin.

And thank you, Illinois veterans for fighting for our freedom.

Related Marathon Pundit posts:

Broken promises: How "jarheads" got shunted aside at the University of Illinois: A Marathon Pundit series

Marathon Pundit Exclusive: What happened behind the scenes of the University of Illinois veteran scholarship scandal

University of Illinois: "Hookers are Praised as Soldiers" –Marathon Pundit's Third Investigative Report

University of Illinois military scholarships scandal update

Exclusive: Van der Hooning, and Illinois vets, get a hearing at the Court of Claims

To comment on this post, please visit Marathon Pundit.

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Exclusive: Van der Hooning, and Illinois vets, get a hearing at the Court of Claims

Cases involving employees of the state of Illinois often end up in the Court of Claims, and in Chicago that means heading to the massive Helmut Jahn-designed James R. Thomspon Center in the city's Loop.

The building, pictured above, has many distinguishing characteristics, but its most prominent one is its enormous atrium in the center of the roundish building. Many of the offices in the building don't have doors--the inspiration behind that was Jahn's belief that government should be open and accessible to the people it serves.

My alma mater, the University of Illinois, has been less than open in its handling of the scandal involving rescinded military scholarships for its Chicago Executive MBA program.

The state, on the other hand, was great today. They let me into the hearing, which fits Jahn's inspiration.

Here are my key posts on that topic:

Broken promises: How "jarheads" got shunted aside at the University of Illinois: A Marathon Pundit series

Marathon Pundit Exclusive: What happened behind the scenes of the University of Illinois veteran scholarship scandal

University of Illinois: "Hookers are Praised as Soldiers" –Marathon Pundit's Third Investigative Report

University of Illinois military scholarships scandal update

I'm going to do a second post as soon as some of that I observed is digested, particularly the legal terms

Each side got twenty minutes to present their case. Lindsay Jones, with a booming southern accent stated the U of I's case with well-timed cadence, which in one sentance was: This case should be dismissed.

Then Robert van der Hooning's side got its turn. Van der Hooning has two lawyers fighting for him--and the veterans. Legendary Chicago attorney Michael Shakman, the inspiration behind the anti-political patronage legal decision known as the Shakman Decree, and Jennifer Smiley are in van der Hooning's corner.

Smiley's presentation was measured and deliberate, which to me--keeping in mind that I'm not a lawyer--was the best way to convince the six judges the merits of van der Hooning's case.

Forty-five minutes after it began, the hearing was over. Van der Hooning thanked me repeatedly for showing up. Shakman and Smiley didn't seem to know what to make of "this blogger person," but I'm used to that. Neither did Tom Klocek's attorneys John Mauck and Andy Norman when they met me for the first time when their battle with DePaul began in 2005. They're big fans of the blog now.

I asked Shakman when he thought a decision would be reached. "Weeks," he replied. "Or months," Smiley added.

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Move America Forward caravan comes to Niles

On Tuesday evening, the Move America Forward "Fight for Victory" tour came to Niles, Illinois--the town just west of Morton Grove.

Work kept me from attending, so I did the next best thing: I sent Mrs. Marathon Pundit, who took several college level courses in photography in her native Latvia.

She did a fabulous job, especially since my instructions to her were basic--show up and take some pictures.

Up on top is retired Air Force Lt. Colonel Buzz Patterson, who in his "retirement" manages to write best-selling books, appear frequently on television, and of course, take part in the Move America Forward Caravan.

Over on the right is Dr. Steve Sauerberg, who is running for the Republican nomination for the US Senate in 2008 in Illinois--Dick Durbin's seat. Next to Sauerberg is a vote Durbin won't be counting on next November.

Diana Nagy sang Where Freedom Flies. Anne Leary of Backyard Conservative, who has her own post on Tuesday's rally, reports some of Nagy's relatives, who live twenty five miles south in Downers Grove, made the trip to up to Niles to see her peform. Leary also reports that there were a few Freepers in the crowd.

Anne wasn't the only blogger there, intrepid reporter Jake Jacobsen of the Freedom Folks showed up, that's Jake in red on the right. Their post isn't up yet, but I'm sure Jake and The Bald Chick will add their contribution soon.

And finally, a group shot of some proud Americans on September 11, 2007 showing their support of the troops in Niles, Illinois on a pleasant late summer evening.

Of the local media, CBS 2 and WGN-TV covered the rally.

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Move America Forward "Fight for Victory" caravan coming to Niles, IL on 9/11

Good news is coming to Niles, Illinois. The Move America Forward "Fight for Victory" caravan is heading to my neighborhood: Niles, Illinois. I cannot make it, but Mrs. Marathon Pundit and Little Marathon Pundit will be there to show their support and take photographs.

Here are the details:

6:00 PM - Niles, Illinois
Pro-Troop Rally & News Conference & 9/11 Observance
Milwaukee Ave & W. Touhy Ave (Just north of the Chicago city limits.)

Bring letters, cards, notes of support & appreciation for our wounded warriors to this event, we will collect them and bring them to our recovering troops at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. at the conclusion of the national caravan.

There's a nice plaza with a waterfall there--it's a great spot for the rally.

Hat tip to Third Wave Dave and Backyard Conservative.

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Heroes Run in Lockport, IL on July 28

Pam Meister out in New England is doing a better job than I am keeping an eye on running-related events in the Chicago area.

On Saturday, July 28, the first Heroes Run will take place in Lockport, Illinois to raise money for the children of Captain Travis Patriquin, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq last December.

Patriquin gained international attention when he created this simple yet brilliant PowerPoint presentation, How to Win in al-Anbar.

Register to enter the race here.

Sadly, I don't think I can make the race, since I'm planning to be out of town.

Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn, whose name is eerily similar to that of the falled captain, attended Patriquin's memorial service in January, and the Catholic Explorer showed a side of Quinn that isn't often presented to the public.

"He had a servant’s heart and an ethic of unconditional service," commented Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn during a telephone conversation with the Catholic Explorer. The state leader acknowledged that he didn't have the honor of knowing Patriquin in his earthly life, but still applauded the soldier’s deeds. He complimented the Arabic-speaking soldier for befriending the men, women and children he protected in Iraq.

Quinn recalled attending a memorial service for the fallen soldier Jan. 6, 2007, at St. Dennis Parish. Since entering the office of lieutenant governor in 2003, he has represented the people of Illinois at many of the funeral services for the 164 soldiers from Illinois that have been killed in action since Sept. 11, 2001. “These are men and women that love this country more than themselves,” said Quinn.

He spoke in awe of the sacrifice that service men and women make for the country and offered some comfort to those who are grieving. Quinn reflected, "Our faith teaches us, those who are Catholic and non-Catholic, we will see them again." The politician, who attends St. Giles Church in Oak Park and Old St. Mary’s Church in Chicago, continued, "Faith is all we have to hold on to."

In 2003, Quinn returned to his elementary school, St. Isaac Jogues School in Hinsdale, to dedicate a plaque in honor of a fellow classmate, Lance Cpl. Lester Webber, who died in 1969 in Vietnam. He commented, "It’s bearing witness when a hero passes."

Quinn has performed superbly in his support of the troops.

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