In Admissions, the Powerful Weigh In (Chronicle)

Most public-university presidents describe their admissions offices as walled gardens, where qualified professionals are free to build classes that reflect an institution’s values of diversity and academic excellence. But a Chronicle of Higher Education investigation reveals varying levels of engagement among admissions officers, board members, and presidents showing that university VIPs routinely inquire about individual applicants. Read more: 
http://chronicle.com/article/In-Admissions-the-Powerful/234368