Amid Push to ‘Ban the Box,’ Illinois Universities Still Asking Students About Criminal History

In a recent Chicago Tribune article, Dawn Rhodes writes about the challenges of pursuing higher education with a criminal history. Chico Tillmon, Executive Director of the Y’s Youth Safety and Violence Prevention initiative shares what he did after he got out of prison. He was a changed man trying to improve his life but knew it would be hard trying to explain that in university applications. Chico eventually chose to enroll in Northeastern Illinois University because the application didn’t require him to disclose his felony convictions.

Read more about Chico’s experience and how universities in Illinois are addressing this issue on the Chicago Tribune’s website.