Dozens of parents have been charged in a multi million-dollar scandal to get their children accepted into prestigious universities. The parents paid a consultant who fabricated academic and athletic credentials and arranged bribes to help get their children into college. William Rick Singer presented students as elite athletes as well as photo-shop the student’s face on another athlete. A total of 50 people have been charged within the scandal. According to CNN, from 2011 through February 2019, Singer was paid between $15,000 and $75,000 to assist their child with SAT scores. CNN further states that the parents were charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest-services mail fraud. Other defendants included university athletic coach as well as college exam administrators who were accused of accepting bribes.
“I feel like if kids can’t get into college on their own then their parents shouldn’t have to pay to get them into college.” says an anonymous Northwood student.
Andrew Lelling, U.S attorney for the District of Massachusetts, stated that 33 parents “paid enormous sums” to try to ensure their children got into universities in return for obtaining false records on the SAT and ACT. He also stated to CNBC that “deception and fraud included fake test scores, fake credentials, fake photographs and bribed college officials.”
Singer reportedly bribed coaches and administrators to allow students to be labeled as “recruited athletes” which would increase their chances at gaining admission. He also manipulated college entrance exams by gaining extra time for the clients’ children to take the SAT and ACT by claims of learning disabilities or by bribing test officials up front. Singer arranged for students to take tests at specific locations and paid administrators of the test as much as $10,000 per test. In certain instances, Singer allegedly arranged for a third person “to take the exams in place of the students, to give the students the correct answers during the exams, or to correct the student’s answers,” the Justice Department said. In addition, the Justice department stated that “in many instances, the students taking the exams were unaware that their parents had arranged for the cheating.”
“I think it’s pretty messed up,” Northwood senior Alfredo Gonzalez said. “I think it’s pretty unfair for the students who are actually trying to get into those big universities […] I think law enforcement and the FBI are doing their job. I think they should prevent any stuff like that. They should put more security in the SAT’s and (other) tests.”
Singer owned the Edge College and Career Network LLC otherwise known as “The Key.” This program was a college counseling and preparation business. He also served as the CEO of the Key Worldwide Foundation (KWF), a non-profit corporation that he started as a charity. The payments were disguised as donations to Singer’s foundation, KWF.
So far, 33 parents have been caught in the scandal; however, no student has been found guilty. The University of Southern California (USC) has stated that they would not admit any student caught within the scandal and if already admitted, they would go through a case by case basis. According to CNN, the school has fired Senior Athletic Director Donna Heinel and water polo coach Jovan Vavic, who were involved in the scandal. USC plans to use the money associated with the scheme to fund scholarships for lower-income students.
-By Charlie Hatch
