UI neurology and psychology Professor Daniel Tranel wrote in a Jan. 30, 2011 e-mail to a colleague, regarding the application of James Holmes to the neuroscience graduate program, “Do NOT offer admission under any circumstances.”

No specifics about why Holmes was denied UI admission were included in the documents released by the university Thursday in response to open-records requests from The Gazette and other media outlets, and Holmes’ application and essay do not appear unusual.

UI Spokesman Tom Moore on Thursday would say only that “the committee did not feel that Mr. Holmes would be a good personal fit for our program."

Holmes, 24, was interviewed in person on the UI campus by the committee, Moore said. The neuroscience graduate program had eight applicants for Fall 2011, with five of them admitted, Moore said.

Two days after Tranel’s email with his impressions on seven graduate program candidates that had visited the UI campus on a recent weekend, UI Professor Mark Blumberg agreed with Tranel’s assessment of Holmes, writing in an e-mail “I agree with Dan. Don’t admit.”

Blumberg, in an e-mail to The Gazette Thursday, said he was out of the country and he had "nothing to say about this case." Tranel did not return phone and e-mail messages for comment.

http://muscatinejournal.com/news/state-and-regional/iowa/do-not-adm...