I actually agree with that sentiment, but it's pretty comical how USC conjured this absurd walk-on fig leaf to buying your way in.
I think it's most interesting as a story of the bureaucracy at USC, which the article hints at more than just the quotes above. It seems the athletic department played along with this admissions scheme because it gave them a piece of the big donor money directly. This bit was really interesting-
I think it's most interesting as a story of the bureaucracy at USC, which the article hints at more than just the quotes above. It seems the athletic department played along with this admissions scheme because it gave them a piece of the big donor money directly. This bit was really interesting-
Quote:Administrators even contemplated rescinding the admission of a New York investment banker’s child over money. After Subco approved the son of Thomas Michaud as a water polo walk-on in 2014, fundraisers in the athletic department learned their counterparts at the Marshall School of Business and USC’s Manhattan outpost were already courting the family for a donation of $1 million to $5 million.
Worried that athletics would be cut out of a windfall, Heinel told Orr, “If this is not working out the way you planned, I can have Admissions pull the approval.”
“Really sucks,” he agreed. “Don’t pull we will guilt them …”