04-01-2019, 11:24 AM
I wonder how many alleged crimes happened after the FBI was involved. It is hard to imagine parents, wealthy or not, talking to some businessman and say "How can I bribe someone to get my child into the university?" or "If I give you enough money, can you get someone to alter the test results or even take it for my child?"
To me, the likelihood is that Singer, apparently the government's star witness, was the common factor & alleged mastermind in the alleged crimes. In my mind, that makes it likely that he suggested the crimes & solicited money from the parents. As I understand it, Singer set up the alleged charities to which money was directed.
I don't think anyone thinks it is a crime to have a consultant help your child with training for tests or advising what to do to improve chances of getting into school. If such a consultant then suggests criminal activities, then the parents should have declined & reported him to the authorities. I imagine most of these people have financial advisors & lawyers on retainer. I wonder how many of those parents were somehow conned into this, by some hook or crook. I wonder how many were told, "Put $$$ into this charity and I'll talk to a friend who will get your kid into this school."
If all the bribery and fraudulent tests were in the past, and the FBI gathered wiretap evidence from calls of the flavor "Watch out, the feds are watching me," then ok. But if the FBI participated in even one call where Singer broached possible illegal activities to a parent or coach, then I'd be surprised & disappointed.
I am curious as to the genesis of the idea of using easier admissions for athletes as a way to get weak students in. Did Singer come up with this, or did some coach (or admissions person) come up with this scheme? Note that this same method could be used to get foreigners admitted as students, and so into the US on student visas. I believe foreign students typically pay more and so are already financially more attractive to the schools, and I imagine it is difficult to evaluate foreign students as to their academic achievements & outside activities.
To me, the likelihood is that Singer, apparently the government's star witness, was the common factor & alleged mastermind in the alleged crimes. In my mind, that makes it likely that he suggested the crimes & solicited money from the parents. As I understand it, Singer set up the alleged charities to which money was directed.
I don't think anyone thinks it is a crime to have a consultant help your child with training for tests or advising what to do to improve chances of getting into school. If such a consultant then suggests criminal activities, then the parents should have declined & reported him to the authorities. I imagine most of these people have financial advisors & lawyers on retainer. I wonder how many of those parents were somehow conned into this, by some hook or crook. I wonder how many were told, "Put $$$ into this charity and I'll talk to a friend who will get your kid into this school."
If all the bribery and fraudulent tests were in the past, and the FBI gathered wiretap evidence from calls of the flavor "Watch out, the feds are watching me," then ok. But if the FBI participated in even one call where Singer broached possible illegal activities to a parent or coach, then I'd be surprised & disappointed.
I am curious as to the genesis of the idea of using easier admissions for athletes as a way to get weak students in. Did Singer come up with this, or did some coach (or admissions person) come up with this scheme? Note that this same method could be used to get foreigners admitted as students, and so into the US on student visas. I believe foreign students typically pay more and so are already financially more attractive to the schools, and I imagine it is difficult to evaluate foreign students as to their academic achievements & outside activities.