The Wright Times

Issue date: 2/1/09 Section: News

Media Credit: illinois.burris.gov Burris is now, finally, a senator.

Roland Burris took the oath of office on January 15, 2009, replacing Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate. Burris was appointed by impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich on Dec. 31, 2008. Although Burris himself was not implicated in any wrongdoing, the 'Pay-to-Play' scandal surrounding Governor Blagojevich shrouded Buris' transition into office with controversy. There was some speculation on whether he would be seated. However, Burris is no stranger to controversy. When asked about her thoughts about Burris' transition, Wright College student Maryam Elfeki said "I don't think he should be blamed for anything. He's qualified."
According to a Newsweek article published Jan. 9, Burris was involved in a troubling court case: the 1985 wrongful conviction of suspected murderer and rapist Rolando Cruz. Attorney General Mary Brigid Kenney, was assigned by Burris to fight Cruz' appeal. She resigned in protest when Burris ignored her warnings of a wrongful conviction. DNA tests later proved Cruz' innocence, which lead to Governor George Ryan issuing a full pardon. "Illinois has a history of corruption. The Democrats were right to question anyone filling that seat," Wright student Elliot Garr said. Still, most political critics agree that Burris' experience renders him qualified.
According to New York Times articles published in 1998 and 2009, Roland Wallace Burris, born August 3, 1937 grew up in the small town of Centralia, Illinois where he graduated from Centralia High School in 1955. After graduating, Burris attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale, receiving a Bachelor's degree in Political Science. He also participated in an exchange student scholarship program to study International Law at the University of Hamburg in Germany. He eventually earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Howard University School of Law in 1963. Burris, married to Berlean M. Burris, Ph.D., has two adult children Roland and Rolanda and a grandson Roland. After graduating from Law school, he became the National Bank Examiner for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for the U.S. Treasury Department where he travelled around the mid-west, examining banks in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. From 1964 to 1973, he worked at Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company (now known as Bank of America), serving as tax accountant, tax consultant, commercial banking officer, and vice-president. He managed a commercial group that covered government guaranteed loans and minority business banking.

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