Nyra Pasha
News Editor
A few weeks ago the media was abuzz with news of the college bribery scandal, Operation Varsity Blues. This scheme involved 50 people charged for involvement in bribery and cheating to get students, including those of public figures and celebrities, into prominent schools such as USC and Harvard. Fake test scores were sent to the universities and some applicants involved in the scheme pretended to be on sports teams to get accepted to the schools. Parents including Full House’s Lori Loughlin, Jane Buckingham, and Gordon Caplan, paid large sums of money to ensure the admission of their children.
The results of this scandal will take several years to repay, but those involved have already begun to see the consequences. Hallmark refused to continue to work with Loughlin who starred in the drama series When Calls the Heart. Her daughter who has a significant following on YouTube, Olivia Jade Giannulli, will reportedly not return to USC. The college also rejected six applicants allegedly involved in the scheme and are not allowing students who are already enrolled to register for the next semester. Harvard University fires the head sailing coach, John Vandemoer, after he pleaded guilty to accepting a $500,000 donation from an anonymous student for helping her get accepted. Thirteen people including Desperate Housewives” star Felicity Huffman pleaded guilty and face multiple fines and the possibility for up to 20 years in prison. Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli pleaded not guilty and are going on trial soon. This scandal shocked country and has brought light to the conspiracies of college admissions along with the general inequity gap in the American education system.
Trojan Times 