The Chancellor of the University of Illinois’s flagship campus in Urbana-Champaign today admitted his role in getting politically connected applicants accepted to the school.

Testifying before a state commission, Chancellor Richard Herman said the university should abolish its practice of admitting students based on clout.

Herman said he typically got 40 recommendations a year—most of them from trustees. He admits he was often the one with the final say over whether politically connected students were admitted.