A well connected call to the university president can influence chances

[EllieMom]

I also wonder whether with today’s limited state budgets, state universities feel pressured to capitulate to demands by legislators who have influence over the school’s funding in order to avoid their budget being cut.

Well, that certainly was the case at UIUC a few years ago.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/20/richard-herman-u-of-illin_n_327137.html