In a new statement, Chancellor-designate Linda Katehi reiterated that she “never attempted to alter, influence or interfere with the admissions decision of any applicant to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.”

The statement came out July 3, after the Chicago Tribune reported that day on Katehi’s involvement in e-mails allegedly linked to a U of I “clout” list—applicants with connections.

The Tribune had earlier examined some 1,800 other documents for its “Clout Goes to College” series, and reported that they did not suggest that Katehi played a key role in the alleged “shadow” admissions system at Urbana-Champaign, where she now serves as provost.

However, on July 3, the Tribune cited a 2008 case that began with the Rev. Alexander Karloutsos of New York and his attempt to help a girl whom he had known since childhood. He urged her father to contact Endy Zemenides, a campaign adviser to the Illinois state treasurer. Zemenides sent an e-mail to Katehi, and, in February 2008, she wrote to admissions officers.

“The student in question was going to be wait-listed, and that was the response I received to my inquiry,” Katehi said. “My response was simply to say, ‘Let’s not intervene in the decision to wait-list the student.’”

Upon learning the applicant would be on the May admissions list, Katehi wrote “Excellent!”

In her July 3 statement, Katehi said that in her role as provost, to check on an applicant’s status is “absolutely appropriate.”

UC President Mark G. Yudof also issued a new statement: “At this time, I have no reason to have anything but full confidence in Dr. Katehi.”