Ongoing corruption scandal involving major universities in the U.S.
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In 2019, more than 50 people would be named in the FBI dubbed the Operation Varsity Blues, including Lori Loughlin and Felicity Hoffman, but was it the college entrance process itself that facilitated the scandal?
Rick Singer went from failed basketball coach to college admissions kingpin, engineering a $25 million scheme that had the rich and famous buying their kids' way into elite schools. From Aunt Becky to the Hot Pockets Heiress, this smooth-talking grifter exposed the dark underbelly of elite education. That is, until he brought down some of America's most privileged in the process. Chris Burns (fatcarriebradshaw) and Sarah Tiana (Comedy Store) join Misha to do a play-by-play of Operation Varsity Blues, A.K.A. the College Admissions Scandal. Follow The Big Flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Big Flop early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.Be the first to know about Wondery's newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to The Big Flop on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/the-big-flop/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
It was known as Operation Varsity Blues, the college admissions scandal. When the FBI wrongly accused parent John Wilson, the former president of Staples International, he refused to buckle and fought back. It cost him his life's savings— but he won. And now he's telling a story of government corruption.Order Sharyl's new bestselling book: “Follow the $cience.” Subscribe to my two podcasts: “The Sharyl Attkisson Podcast” and “Full Measure After Hours.” Leave a review, subscribe and share with your friends! Support independent journalism by visiting the new Sharyl Attkisson store.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The “Operation Varsity Blues Recruiting Scandal” dominated news headlines for months. According to the U.S. Government and the national media, rich, famous, entitled parents had done unscrupulous things to allow their kids to attend elite universities like Yale, Georgetown, USC, and others. But the real story is “The Scandal Within The Scandal,” which is nothing like you were led to believe. One parent who lived in Boston was the key for the government to ensnarl into the scandal because that would have allowed all 33 parents to have their cases heard on the East Coast.That parent joins Tom Zenner and Kato Kaelin for an explosive interview that will reveal the truth about this scandal. This parent faced 11 felony charges and 180 years in prison! The Netflix movie about this scandal twisted facts to tell a story that wasn't true because this parent didn't commit any crimes, and his children were accomplished athletes and students. This episode will have you asking yourself how far you would go to defend your family's honor and reputation when facing the unbeatable U.S. Justice Department.Would you spend your entire life savings, sacrifice a prestigious career, and endure four years of hell? He shares his side of the story, detailing how he was wrongly implicated in the scandal and how he has fought to clear his name. He also discusses his ongoing defamation lawsuit against Netflix, claiming that the documentary Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal falsely portrayed him as knowingly engaging in illegal activity, significantly damaging his reputation. Meet the man who drew a line in the sand and put everything on the line to bring out the truth._____________Subscribe to Tom Zenner Scandalous: www.youtube.com/@TZScandal?sub_confirmation=1___________ Subscribe to our Clips channel for Daily Content: https://www.youtube.com/@TZSClips?sub_confirmation=1-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Tom on social media Facebook | http://bit.ly/3YJI1jHInstagram | http://bit.ly/3XJ1pvBTwitter | http://bit.ly/3lSjSso------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Connect with KatoInstagram http://bit.ly/3Z1GNjmTwitter | http://bit.ly/3Id4TB6Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/one-degree-of-scandalous-with-tom-zenner-and-kato-kaelin--6258576/support.
In 2019, a case called Varsity Blues cracked open college admissions, revealing a nexus of corrupt athletic coaches and celebrity parents willing to spend hundreds of thousands to guarantee their children spots at top schools. At the center of the scandal was a shady, smooth-talking con-artist named Rick Singer, primed to take advantage of parents' insecurities, fears, and ambitions for their children. In this episode, Vanessa talks with Eric Rosen, the prosecutor in the Varsity Blues case, about the juicy details—from finding Singer to wire tapping his phone—and reflects on what this case tells us about U.S. colleges and the admissions process today. Click ‘Subscribe' at the top of the Infamous show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. A Campside Media & Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Education Headline RoundupThis week in the roundup of latest news and headlines impacting education:Ohio is set to increase the prices for teacher licensing fees in order to prevent the Ohio Board of Education from having a $3.5 million budget shortfall next year.In response to a growing literacy crisis, Oregon has so far distributed about $28 million in grants aimed at bolstering reading education. This initiative represents a critical effort to enhance educational outcomes and address systemic challenges in early education. According to NPR, “Surveyed schools in Oregon remain nearly two-thirds of a year behind pre-pandemic levels in reading,” and “learning loss in Oregon is roughly two to three times worse than national averages.”Schools across the nation are facing an alarming increase in student absences. Recent Pew Research data polled educators across the nation; 61% of high school teachers said chronic absenteeism was a problem at their schools. Researchers are pointing to a cultural shift in the wake of COVID-19 concerning our relationship to school.The Great College Con: Operation Varsity BluesThis week we take a walk through the concealed corridors of privilege and power within the U.S. college admissions system. A wide-ranging scandal known as Operation Varsity Blues (unveiled in March 2019) reflects the complex, often unseen mechanisms that shape educational access and equity at some of the U.S.'s most elite colleges and universities.Operation Varsity Blues exposed a network of wealthy parents and college coaches, who with an orchestrator named Rick Singer manipulated admissions systems to favor their children, often without the students' knowledge. Singer's scheme involved a so-called "side door" into prestigious colleges, and his activities facilitated more than $25 million in bribes. Through fabricated athletic profiles and manipulated standardized test scores, the scandal implicated celebrities, executives, and coaches. The scandal prompted a reevaluation of admissions policies and the role of standardized testing in evaluating scholastic merit.We'll discuss whether meritocracy has become a myth, what part test-optional policies play in admissions reform, the impact on student mental health brought by the college application rat race, and how college rankings apply pressure to the admissions process.Thanks for listening!Sources & Resources:Watch Out: Tornado Alley Is Migrating Eastward | Scientific AmericanIowa vs. South Carolina TV ratings: How 2024 NCAA women's championship broadcast compares to other sportsOhio's Board of Education expresses budget crisis following education department overhaul | 10tv.comOhio school board may raise teacher license fees as budget shortfall loomsOregon schools' pandemic recovery lags behind much of the nation : NPROregon Literacy Crisis: State distributes millions in grants aimed at reading educationA Crisis of School Absences - The New York TimesWhat's It Like To Be a Teacher in America Today? | Pew Research CenterAbsent Peers, Present Challenges: The Differential Impact of In-Person and Virtual Classmate Absences on Future Attendance | Texas Tech College of EducationTV celebrities and coaches charged in college bribery scheme | AP NewsWeb Archive - About The KeyDo donations influence college admissions? | Higher Ed DiveActresses, Business Leaders and Other Wealthy Parents Charged in U.S. College Entry Fraud - The New York TimesWho's Been Charged in the College Admissions Cheating Scandal? Here's the Full List - The New York TimesCollege Admissions Scandal: Full List of People SentencedWhat Happened to the Students Caught Up in the College Admissions Scandal? - The New York TimesSAT Quiz: Can You Answer Questions From the Original Test? | TIMEMLB, players union trade blame for pitcher injuries as MLBPA condemns pitch clock, league faults velocity - CBSSports.com
There was a time in the United States—not that long ago, actually—when local newspapers played an undisputed positive role in holding people in authority to account. Daniel Golden is a journalist practicing his craft in that great tradition. Golden is a Boston-based senior editor and reporter at ProPublica. He has been instrumental in three Pulitzer Prizes, two as an editor and one as a reporter. He co-edited a ProPublica series on Latin American asylum-seekers caught between the U.S. government and the MS-13 gang, which won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for feature writing. Before joining ProPublica, he worked as managing editor for education and enterprise at Bloomberg News. There he edited a series about tax inversions—companies moving headquarters overseas to avoid taxes—that earned Bloomberg's only Pulitzer Prize in 2015. Golden won a Pulitzer as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal in 2004 for a series of articles on preferences for children and donors in college admissions. He expanded that series into a critically acclaimed national bestseller, “The Price of Admission: How America's Ruling Class Buys Its Way Into Elite Colleges—and Who Gets Left Outside the Gates.” An updated edition was published in October 2019 with new reporting on the Operation Varsity Blues scandal. He is co-author of “Spy Schools: How The CIA, FBI, and Foreign Intelligence Secretly Exploit America's Universities,” with Renee Dudley. Golden spent 17 years as a staff reporter at the Boston Globe, including a stint on its Spotlight team, and served as senior editor for investigations at Conde Nast Portfolio. He has won three George Polk awards, three National Headliner awards, the Sigma Delta Chi award, the Gerald Loeb Award, among others.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In 2019, Felicity Huffman went from TV and film sets to jail after it was revealed that the Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated actor was implicated in the college admissions scandal nicknamed “Operation Varsity Blues.” Along with other parents - like “Full House” star Lori Loughlin - Felicity paid a guy named Rick Singer thousands of dollars to bend the rules to help her daughter Sophia get into certain schools. Now - for the first time - Felicity is opening up about this chapter of her life, during which she ended up behind bars. And how she's learned a hard lesson from the school of life.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Getting into college can be hard. The admissions process is long and tedious and competitive. Especially if one is trying to get into a top school. Which is why, starting in 2011, a group of wealthy parents of would-be students decided to take matters into their own hands. Their nefarious solution would result in millions of dollars changing hands, and the ripple effects of this scandal are still crashing ashore today in 2023. Listen now to hear Karla's take on this case that proves that the "better half" really do have it better...until it all comes crashing down!
Rick Singer is exposed as the leader of a widespread college admissions bribery conspiracy. Prelude: A digital bank and Swiss asset manager work together to conceal dozens of illegal pump-and-dump stock schemes. –––-–---------------------------------------- BECOME A VALUEDLISTENER™ Spotify Apple Podcasts Patreon –––-–---------------------------------------- DONATE: SwindledPodcast.com/Support CONSUME: SwindledPodcast.com/Shop WATCH: SwindledVideo.com –––-–---------------------------------------- MUSIC: Deformr –––-–---------------------------------------- FOLLOW: SwindledPodcast.com Instagram Twitter.com TikTok Facebook Thanks for listening. :-) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Justice Insiders: Giving Outsiders an Insider Perspective on Government
Host Gregg N. Sofer welcomes Husch Blackwell partner Cormac Connor to the program to discuss the First Circuit's reversals of the criminal convictions previously handed down in connection with two parents' involvement in the so-called Varsity Blues scandal. Operation Varsity Blues was a joint investigation led by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts into a web of bribery and fraud directed toward college admissions. The investigation was huge, spanning multiple states and involving dozens of individuals, including college coaches, testing administrators, and of course, parents, some of whom were high-profile celebrities and business executives.Of all the parents charged, only two chose to fight the government at trial and through to appeal, and their position was vindicated by the First Circuit. We will explore the strategy pursued by the government and how it unraveled before the appellate court, as well as some the finer points of conspiracy law featured in the case.Gregg N. Sofer BiographyFull BiographyGregg counsels businesses and individuals in connection with a range of criminal, civil and regulatory matters, including government investigations, internal investigations, litigation, export control, sanctions, trade secrets and regulatory compliance. Prior to entering private practice, Gregg served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas—one of the largest and busiest United States Attorney's Offices in the country—where he supervised more than 300 employees handling a diverse caseload, including matters involving complex white-collar crime, contract fraud, national security, cyber-crimes, public corruption, money laundering, export violations, trade secrets, tax, large-scale drug and human trafficking, immigration, child exploitation and violent crime.Cormac Connor BiographyFull BiographyA partner with Husch Blackwell based in Washington, D.C., Cormac has two decades of experience with high-stakes litigation and investigations, both as a prosecutor and as defense counsel. He has advised dozens of clients facing criminal and civil investigations involving all manner of federal criminal investigations, False Claims Act allegations, antitrust allegations, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act claims. Cormac regularly assists clients with responses to formal and informal investigative inquiries, including Grand Jury subpoenas, Office of Inspector General subpoenas, civil investigative demands, and 28 U.S.C. § 1782 subpoenas. Between his stints in private practice, Cormac was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for nearly four years in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, serving as lead prosecutor in 24 criminal trials, investigating hundreds of criminal cases, managing Grand Jury investigations, and coordinating investigative activities by law enforcement personnel.Additional ResourcesConnor, Cormac. “‘Varsity Blues' Reversal Demonstrates Limitations of Conspiracy Allegations.” May 19, 2023.U.S. v. Wilson, case number 22-1138, and U.S. v. Abdelaziz, case number 22-1129, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.Kotteakos v. United States, 328 U.S. 750 (1946).
Who was behind the college admissions scandal? Abby is joined by Wall Street Journal Higher Education Reporter and Co-Author of Unacceptable: Privilege, Deceit & The Making Of The College Admissions Scandal, Melissa Korn for a lesson on the “Operation Varsity Blues” scandal. Melissa explains how college admissions counselor Rick Singer orchestrated the conspiracy that allowed wealthy parents to pay for their children to be accepted into elite schools. Melissa looks at the high-profile universities and celebrities involved in the scheme, and the legal consequences that were at stake. Later, she discusses the impact that the scandal had on the college admissions process as a whole and explains why the system is so fiercely competitive today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of 'The Vivek Show,' host Vivek Ramaswamy explores the topic of meritocracy in America and voices his opposition to race-based affirmative action. He is joined by guest Andrew Lelling, a former U.S. Attorney from Boston, who led the prosecution of the notorious college admission corruption scandal. Lelling sheds light on Rick Singer's elaborate scam involving bribing college coaches and cheating on standardized tests, which secured the admission of wealthy parents' children into prestigious universities. Over 10 years, Singer's scheme amassed an estimated $25 million. Lelling also reveals some high-profile individuals involved in the case, highlighting the wide range of wealthy participants.--Donate here: https://t.co/PE1rfuVBmbFor more content follow me here:Twitter - @VivekGRamaswamyInstagram - @vivekgramaswamyFacebook - http://facebook.com/VivekGRamaswamyTruth Social - @VivekRamaswamyRumble - @VivekRamaswamy--Andrew Lelling, a distinguished former United States Attorney and senior Department of Justice (DOJ) official, brings his extensive expertise in white collar, securities, and international enforcement matters to the podcast. With a track record of successfully trying dozens of cases in both federal and state courts, Lelling shares valuable insights as he defends companies and individuals in complex government investigations, spearheads internal investigations, and provides guidance on compliance with federal, state, and international laws.
What better way to celebrate Tax Day than with a look at some of Hollywood's most sensational tax scandals? Which revered Hollywood star had her house repossessed by the IRS? How did a legendary actress finally receive vindication decades after she was jailed for tax evasion? What's the real story behind the much-publicized Operation Varsity Blues? And what does Nicolas Cage have to say about the debt that has plagued him over the last 15 years (and his two-headed snake)? You can bet your bottom dollar you won't find a better way to celebrate April 18. *Cheers to Laura, a 1939 club member whose support via BuyMeaCoffee.com/scandalwaterpod helped sponsor this episode #TaxDay #CelebrityTaxScandals #OperationVarsityBlues #NicCage #MarthaStewart #AbbyLeeMiller #Lori Loughlin #FelicityHuffman #PuttingtheScandalinScandalWater #Crime
Today we're taking a different enmeshed crime path. In so many cases on this show, we talk about parents that really should have cared more about their kids. But what about the parents who take their devotion to their children to a criminal level? The “snowplow parent” is defined as a person who constantly forces obstacles out of their kids' paths. They have their eye on the future success of their child, and anyone or anything that stands in their way has to be removed. Today we're talking about a sprawling scheme that includes millions of dollars, an FBI wiretap, and the high-profile arrests of actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman among many other wealthy parents and co-conspirators. This episode will cover ‘Operation Varsity Blues', also known as the college admissions scandal. Why spend money on tutors when you can just buy your kid's way into college? Hosted and edited by Amanda ScottCo-Hosted, produced, researched, co-written and original graphic design by Pamela ScottOriginal music by Waves EntertainmentDisclaimer by Chuck HaungsENMESHED is an OH NO! ProductionCheck us out online at:https://www.enmeshedtruecrimepodcast.com/THANKS FOR LISTENING! Support the showPlease review us ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ at: https://www.enmeshedtruecrimepodcast.com/reviews/new/It really helps us move up the charts!SUBSCRIBE HERE:https://www.buzzsprout.com/1889239/support
Patty and JD discuss the college admissions scandal to include the mastermind, Rick Singer.
In this episode of True Crime Daily The Sidebar Podcast: Jack Rice joins host Joshua Ritter to break down the biggest cases making headlines across the nation. They discuss the conviction of Tory Lanez (2:44), Rick Singer's sentencing for his part in an infamous college admissions scandal (12:31), and the retrial of a man whose murder conviction was previously overturned for the use of a controversial piece of evidence (22:56). Tweet your questions for future episodes to Joshua Ritter using the hashtag #TCDSidebar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hosts Phoebe, Andrew, and Keith do a deep dive into the college admissions scandal A.K.A. Operation Varsity Blues. The FBI investigation brought down Aunt Jessie (Lori Loughlin) and Desperate Housewife Felicity Huffman among others.
"What unites these documentaries is that they both believe in a meritocracy" Summer break is officially over... In this episode, we discuss the problem of student debt in the US, the very specific ways it affects Black Americans and the elitism of higher education, through: - The Intercept documentary Freedom Dreams: Black Women and the Student Debt Crisis, narrated by former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner, a longtime ally of the growing debt abolition movement, which looks at the crippling student debt in the US specifically affects Black women. You can watch it HERE. - The Netflix documentary called Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal about the 2019 college admissions bribery scandal. The doc is a mix of re-eactements and real life interviews, and stars Matthew Modine as Rick Singer. It depicts the scandal surrounding the uncovering of a scam run by a private college councillor and “adviser” Rick Singer, who used bribes and doctored photographs to get rich people's kids into elite universities. The issues we take with both docs is that they don't quite address some of the more fundamental, systemic inequalities, which mean that tackling the debt crisis in this way, or condemning Rick Singer's "side doors" into higher education just isn't enough. Here is some additional reading on the subject that will hopefully help you gain more context: Black Student Debt 7 findings that illustrate racial disparities in education https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2016/06/06/7-findings-that-illustrate-racial-disparities-in-education/ Degree Attainment for Black Adults: National and State Trends https://edtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Black-Degree-Attainment_FINAL.pdf How Black Women Experience Student Debt https://edtrust.org/resource/how-black-women-experience-student-debt/ Raising Undergraduate Degree Attainment Among Black Women and Men Takes on New Urgency Amid the Pandemic https://edtrust.org/resource/national-and-state-degree-attainment-for-black-women-and-men/ Student loans, the racial wealth divide, and why we need full student debt cancellation https://www.brookings.edu/research/student-loans-the-racial-wealth-divide-and-why-we-need-full-student-debt-cancellation/ The Student Debt Crisis? It's Infinitely Worse for Black Women https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/student-debt-black-women/ Unequal Opportunity: Race and Education https://www.brookings.edu/articles/unequal-opportunity-race-and-education/
Need TV binge suggestions? You've come to the right place. We've got you covered. In this bonus episode we discuss a few great binge suggestions: Operation Varsity Blues (from live ep 16) This is Us (from live ep 67) Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator (from live ep 68) Crossing the Streams originated on this podcast in episodes 8 and 15. My idea was to record friends freely discussing TV shows (and movies) they binge on one of the many, many streaming services we all subscribe to. Jeff Dwoskin is joined by Howard Rosner, Ron Lippitt, Bob Philips, and Sal Demilio are your co-hosts and we're joined weekly by special guests. The assignment? We each come to the show with a TV binge suggestion. It might be a series, movie, or documentary but we'll give you the scoop so you can decide for yourself whether or not to dive in. Each segment is pulled from a show and shared as is in all its LIVE goodness. Full past live episodes: https://www.youtube.com/c/thejeffdwoskinshow/null Also, you can join us live every week at 9:30 PM ET on YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Essential School Sucks, #10 of 50 Theme One: The Real Problems With Public School This show concludes our first section of shows on the problem of institutional schooling. We're told the primary purpose of K-12 is get into a good college. So in this installment we'll use a single news story about corruption to create a comprehensive argument against the content, culture, and cost of higher indoctrination.(for most people) Scott Hambrick and I discuss the so-called biggest scandal in the history of higher education! But what will the public ultimately learn from the Operation Varsity Blues revelations? And what will change? Scott is a home educating parent, entrepreneur, strength coach and the creator (Reader In Chief) of OnlineGreatBooks.com (https://onlinegreatbooks.com/ogb-memberships/?cookieUUID=b0752603-b84f-4b68-8330-3bf3fc074d2c). Our Partners https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/b/b9f98e30-82d3-4781-8400-880c6dc8086f/2gtm0QVk.png Visit Praxis (https://discoverpraxis.com/schoolsuckspodcast/) Please Support School Sucks School Sucks was one of the longest running liberty-minded podcasts on the web, and the only one completely devoted to the issue of education (versus public school and college). Your support keeps the show alive, which keeps us at the top of the options for education podcasts and leads to new people discovering our work. Please help us continue to spread this important message further! One-Time Donation Options:Paypal/Venmo;Donate DASHDonate ETHEREUMDonate LITECOINDonate BITCOINDonate BITCOIN CASHDonate ZCASH Recurring Options: Support Us On PATREONYou support our mission, and you want to help us continue to reach new people with our message and media. Your contribution helps us maintain presence, and to further build the legacy of School Sucks Project. And please bookmark and use this link for your Amazon shopping: Shop With Us Our Private Community: https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/b/b9f98e30-82d3-4781-8400-880c6dc8086f/fNnDUPqb.png Visit The Uni-iversity (https://sspuniversity.com/) Originally Released March 15, 2019 As "COLLEGE SCAM! – Mainstream America Learns A New Phrase [PODCAST #603]" https://schoolsucksproject.com/wp-content/uploads/603-1024x512.png
We just talked about college decisions recently [http://www.parentingroundaboutpodcast.com/blog/kids-and-rejection-college-acceptance-edition], but we had to revisit the topic after the Operation Varsity Blues scandal broke. Could it lead to more transparency in the admissions process? (Mentioned: Felicity Huffman on Sports Night [http://parentingroundabout.libsyn.com/round-2-two-podcasts-and-a-sitcom].)
Diversity Matters with Oscar Holmes IV Season 3 Episode 1 Episode Title: The Standardized Testing Problem Guest: Mr. Akil Bello Diversity Matters with Oscar Holmes IV is a podcast that explores all things diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) related. In each episode, Oscar and his guests have lively discussions around DEI topics, explore the latest research on the topic, and discuss the implications so that listeners will be more knowledgeable about the topics and be able to apply the insights to their lives. Show Summary: “Even if the score has improved, it's the same kid; it's the same person with almost the same knowledge.” Test or exam preparation is what students go through to increase their performance on standardized tests, usually for college university admissions. While the fair test is an advocacy organization that advocates for more limited, more reasonable & transparent use of standardized assessments, from K10 through 16. The movement supports the push not to administer standardized tests during a pandemic, to help students get better results on their exams. As we all know, the test measures performance under intense pressure, influenced by some sampling of the things learned from K 10. Sadly, the test isn't decoupling one's actual knowledge and abilities from the secondary elements, which are time pressure & societal pressure. And that negatively affects someone's performance during the test. That's why Mr. Akil Bello, an educator, entrepreneur, and testing expert, deep dives into why he is a big critic of the test preparation industry while being a test consultant & a fair test advocate at the same time. In this episode, he talks to us about the most significant issues with standardized testing, specifically for college university admissions. And he shares what institutions can do in higher education to make admissions more equitable. 3 Exceptional Highlights: If you isolated any particular part of basketball, let's say free throw shooting, would you use free throw statistics as the way to choose your NBA franchise? That's what essentially everyone who puts significant weight on the test is doing. All highly speeded high pressure, high stakes, standardized tests have something in common & that is there is a signal-to-noise ratio, which is unclear at best. And I would argue there's more noise than signal for many constituencies. Varsity blues is a representative of where we've reached in higher education. And it's part of the problem. Every day, families are doing variations of Varsity blues on different scales. Show Highlights: How Mr. Akil Bello got into the test prep consulting industry 2:27 Mr. Akil Bello My entry into test prep was motivated by poverty & supported by nepotism. As a poor college kid, I needed money. I was studying architecture, but I wanted a part-time gig. So I went to my aunt and asked her if she could help me out. She pointed me to the Princeton Review and told me to use her name, and I got a job. That led to a total of 17 years working with them. You are known for calling elite, highly selective schools like Harvard and Stanford “highly rejective.” Can you explain why using this language and new framing is important to you? 19:13 Mr. Akil Bello One of the biggest problems in education is conflating historical advantage and wealth with educational quality. Just like your casual use of the word elite right now, I never use the word elite because it yields the position of power and respect to these institutions. You were an expert contributor on Netflix's Operation Varsity Blues, a documentary highlighting the elite college admissions scam. Please help us understand why and how something like this can occur. 28:31 Mr. Akil Bello CAPITALISM and AMERICA. To me, the entire scam is interesting. Because you have families who have a disposable X, hundreds of 1000s of dollars, this was money available for bribes. This is disposable income that was somehow, rather than giving it to the child to invest or giving it to them in a trust fund, it was worth spending this money to get this particular university sticker on the back of your car. Why should the general public care about not getting into their top-choice school or some highly rejective school they wanted to go to? 21:16 Mr. Akil Bello Oh, they shouldn't care. I think that the Stanfords of the world command far too much attention and brand recognition. I think that far too much attention these places receive is the country club effect. It's the exclusion that creates the aura of "Oh, we want to join." And I think that that's the problem. And I would never join a country club. What should we do in higher education to make admissions more equitable? 35:07 Mr. Akil Bello Interrogate your policies for historical bias. Are the policies and the requirements of my admissions process those that advantage students with wealth and access? Is it a necessary component of the process that helps select the most prepared students? And I would argue that in most cases, these policies aren't. Legacy admissions are problematic. How about we just get rid of that? Important Links: Call to Action: Subscribe to Diversity Matters and get exclusive access to all episodes of Beyond the Mill, which is my live diversity dialogues talk show that I host on campus at Rutgers University-Camden. Episode Sponsor Links: Producer Links: Host Social Media Links: Subscribe to Diversity Matters Apple | Google | Spotify | Stitcher
Patty and JD discuss the college admissions scandal to include the mastermind, Rick Singer.
Jonas, Brady and LaVar debate whether or not Deshaun Watson can survive this scandal or if the NFL News Machine will move past it. Petros Papadakis jumps on with his take on the Will Smith Slap, Operation Varsity Blues and the Deshaun Watson deposition tapes. Plus, the BQ News. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fraud in America is made possible by the generous donation of longtime TAF supporter and whistleblower attorney David L. Haron!------------------You can order Unacceptable here.------------------Fraud in America Social Links
On this episode of #90dayfiancewtf: Kimbaalyy finally got her yammy, but we think she's a sneaky link! Guess who's back: The Electric Toothbrush! We think you shouldn't marry someone you're afraid of…hint hint Hamza. What kinda model are we talking about her, Ximena? (Also our tune changed during the next recording - listen to the next upload!) Ladies and Gentlemen…Mahogany's apartment was in fact an airbnb! Also, https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Dogfishing Lan's TV recommendations: Love is Blind Season 2 on Netflix and Euphoria Nadia is watching: Operation Varsity Blues, Downfall: The Case Against Boeing & Dirty Money Season 2 We really hope you are enjoying our podcast. We are constantly trying to improve for our listeners. Do engage with us through our social media or email. Feel free to fact-check us or simply share your thoughts, comments, rants and feedback! Instagram: @90dayfiancewtf Twitter: @90dayfiancewtf Email: 90dayfiancewtf@gmail.com Lan on Instagram and Facebook: @lan_like_lawn Start a podcast with Anchor.fm! ------------------------------ Intro & Outro music: Missing Someone by Dj Quads @aka-dj-quads Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs youtu.be/sMpSfJFfxdc ------------------------------ Contact the artist: Johanlilja@live.se twitter.com/DjQuads https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfiSLmZcFmaHpWfbVVYouSA www.instagram.com/djquads/ https://soundcloud.com/djquads --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/90dayfiancewtf/support
Randy cries watching French children, Clark hates what he brings to the table this week, and Russ was fully expecting to hate the Foo Fighters horror film and… Films: Django & Django (2021), Studio 666 (2022), Ballad in Blood (2016), Petite Maman (2021), Operation Varsity Blues (2021), Screwball (2018), The Scary of Sixty-First (2021) Hey, we're on YouTube! Listening on an iPhone? Don't forget to rate us on iTunes! Fill our fe-mailbag by emailing us at OverlookHour@gmail.com Reach us on Instagram (@theoverlooktheatre) Facebook (@theoverlookhour) Twitter (@OverlookHour)
Many students work hard throughout school to get into the university of their choice and build a better future. But sadly, many were denied this opportunity and passed over by children of wealthy elites that committed acts of bribery and fraud to get their children into these elite schools. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/ryan-christopher-horn/support
Ryan and I review this documentary about Rick Singer, Lori Loughlin, Olivia Jade and the college admissions scandal, and debate whether or not justice was properly served.wnwypodcast@outlook.com, Instagram, wnwypodcast.com
Releasing another of our awesome guest episodes from Season Two of What's That From? This - like most of our guest eps - would only be available to our Patreon subscribers, but we LOVED this episode, so dropping it for free. Hope you enjoy as much as we do. And as always thanks for listening! “Turns Out I'm Stupid” – Hot Takes with Kelly Hudson and Dan Klein. Patreon only ep with Kelly Hudson, Host of the What Are You Into? podcast and Dan Klein, Host of the Bible Brothers podcast.Podcast troubles, Turns Out I'm Stupid, Smart kids don't make smart adults, SAT's, analogies, The Tyranny of Merit, Operation Varsity Blues, college admission scandal, Mossimo, Full House, Jim Santangeli, Cameo, social media break from Venmo, Teen Wheels, a war against bad comedy, Pete Shultz, Weekend Update, SNL: the most fuckable fucked institution, what makes comedy good, working out material as a musician, judging comedy vs. judging music, alienating audiences, Tond, niche comedy, Garth Marenghi, online comments, fame seeking, self- confidence vs. self-love, Gerard Butler, Russell Crowe, Tom Hardy, celebrity height, Steve Nash, Cinco phone, Tim and Eric, Tim Heidecker in Bridesmaids, The Comedy, AP Bio, Office Hours, On Cinema, mainstream work vs. raw comedy, Dan as the weird guy, black metal t-shirt, UCB theater teaching, “game,” Charlie Sanders, Asssscat, standing in line, Tinkle, David Cross, Stella, David Wain, mainstream opinion, Ted Lasso, Hamilton, Beyonce, growing as an artist, hot takes, normies being friends with weridos, Sarah Squirm, English comics, RuPaul's drag race, Terrace House, fame abroad vs. fame in the US, John Sayles, Terry Gilliam, Mike White, commercial success, dungeon synth, Rejected Pitches, editing, confident asshole bad people less fun now, petite feet, Will Ferrell, Anchorman, misogynist humor, male friendship, ManThinkers, diarrhea in the name of weight loss, Pixar Soul, Seinfeld: this is the meal, if not now when, community, expectations of success, the lesson is work harder? or be kinder to yourself. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/whatsthatfrom)
Patreon only ep with Kelly Hudson, Host of the What Are You Into? podcast and Dan Klein, Host of the Bible Brothers podcast.Podcast troubles, Turns Out I'm Stupid, Smart kids don't make smart adults, SAT's, analogies, The Tyranny of Merit, Operation Varsity Blues, college admission scandal, Mossimo, Full House, Jim Santangeli, Cameo, social media break from Venmo, Teen Wheels, a war against bad comedy, Pete Shultz, Weekend Update, SNL: the most fuckable fucked institution, what makes comedy good, working out material as a musician, judging comedy vs. judging music, alienating audiences, Tond, niche comedy, Garth Marenghi, online comments, fame seeking, self- confidence vs. self-love, Gerard Butler, Russell Crowe, Tom Hardy, celebrity height, Steve Nash, Cinco phone, Tim and Eric, Tim Heidecker in Bridesmaids, The Comedy, AP Bio, Office Hours, On Cinema, mainstream work vs. raw comedy, Dan as the weird guy, black metal t-shirt, UCB theater teaching, “game,” Charlie Sanders, Asssscat, standing in line, Tinkle, David Cross, Stella, David Wain, mainstream opinion, Ted Lasso, Hamilton, Beyonce, growing as an artist, hot takes, normies being friends with weridos, Sarah Squirm, English comics, RuPaul's drag race, Terrace House, fame abroad vs. fame in the US, John Sayles, Terry Gilliam, Mike White, commercial success, dungeon synth, Rejected Pitches, editing, confident asshole bad people less fun now, petite feet, Will Ferrell, Anchorman, misogynist humor, male friendship, ManThinkers, diarrhea in the name of weight loss, Pixar Soul, Seinfeld: this is the meal, if not now when, community, expectations of success, the lesson is work harder? or be kinder to yourself. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/whatsthatfrom)
Wouldn't it be nice if hospitals gave out "how-to be a parent" books when you have a child?! And then send another when you're approaching the teen years? Well, Cynthia Muchnick and Jenn Curtis wrote a parenting book that's the closest thing to that latter: "The Parent Compass." The education consultants and co-authors offer tips on how to navigate the teen years through empowerment, flexibility and guidance. Muchnick and Curtis, inspired to put pen to paper when "Operation Varsity Blues" hit the press, share why teens are living in this competitive environment to begin with (spoiler: it's parenting patterns!) They also share with Maria how to spot burnout and solutions to combat it in academics and extracurriculars. Finally, they share what success can look like for different kids, families and situations and how parents can be embrace that!Check out all of the MOM2MOM episodes: nbcboston.com/mom-2-momFollow along on Social: @thehubtoday & @mariasansoneFollow along with Jenn and Cynthia on Instagram: @parentcompassFind "The Parent Compass" Book Club Guide: www.parentcompassbook.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week Derek reviews Operation Varsity Blues, Mel tells us about Lucy, the Human Chimp. Plus we chat about the release of Derek's book "50 Movies You May Now Have Seen, That You Should" available now.
In 2019, the world first became aware of Rick Singer, a supposed “mastermind” behind the now infamous College Admissions Scandal. Singer's web of deceit entangled everyone from high-powered CEOS to Hollywood stars, capitalizing on the rising fever and fraud endemic in higher education. Singer, a slender yet brash ex-basketball coach ingratiated himself with dozens of families, coaches, and administrators in an attempt to exploit loopholes and oversights, ultimately rewarding his wealthy clients with what he called a “side door” into higher education.We now know that untold numbers of these marks were complicit or even conspiratorial in their cooperation with Singer. Our guest Perry Kalmus, the COO of the Princeton Education Network and founder of AKALA, an organization committed to leveling the playing field in higher education is here to give us an insiders perspective of this story while reminding listeners that regardless of the schadenfreude that has dominated the tabloid media, hundreds of seemingly obscure or unknown colleges and universities can provide high quality, vocationally focused education for anyone who is willing to look beyond the outdated, high profile college rankings.
In this episode, we discuss the new Netflix documentary "Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal," and the system that allowed the scandal to happen. Have elite universities become name brands? Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/btwnhereandthere Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btwnherethere/
Grab your coffee because today I am bringing you the perfect pop culture / true crime crossover! I am sitting down with the hosts of That's So F***** Cameron and Ashley to break down everything we learned from Operation Varsity Blues. This is the Netflix documentary covering the college admissions scandal. We'll be giving our hot takes on what exactly was so messed up and how the mastermind, Rick Singer, behind the operation got away with it for so long. Then we will chat about how it all fell apart which has a lot to do with the celebrities Rick Singer was associating himself with. Follow me on Instagram @meginthemorningpodcast for updates on the show and DM me with your thoughts on the documentary! What deep-dive do you want next? Find That's So F***** Up HERE! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/meginthemorning/support
Our friend Marcia Lane- McGee is back to chat Mugshot in the Morning, authentic beauty, and all things Sharpay Evans. Hashtag High School Musical for life!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Lydia and Christina get Addison RAW discussing Operation Varsity Blues, Ms. Evergiven, toothbrushes, and self-diagnosers on TikTok. Open your third eye and enjoy!
Join us this week for an in-depth discussion with Wall Street Journal reporter, Melissa Korn, co-author of Unacceptable. We'll delve into the who, what, where, and why of the Varsity Blues scandal. More importantly, we'll talk through the behavior that allowed this to happen on a grand scale and discuss how to avoid similar thinking and actions that can lead to similar ethical transgressions. Finally, we'll offer tips on what to look for in an ethical college counselor.
Join us this week for an in-depth discussion with Wall Street Journal reporter, Melissa Korn, co-author of Unacceptable. We'll delve into the who, what, where, and why of the Varsity Blues scandal. More importantly, we'll talk through the behavior that allowed this to happen on a grand scale and discuss how to avoid similar thinking and actions that can lead to similar ethical transgressions. Finally, we'll offer tips on what to look for in an ethical college counselor.
Our brains are fried and filled with thoughts of college basketball, but we've still got plenty of new shows and movies to break down this week. Pac-12 athletics are heating up on the court and on Netflix, with the premiere of Operation Varsity Blues (2:08). Jack found four hours to watch Zack Snyder's Justice League - HBO Max (12:43), and Lindsay regrets spending two hours watching Deadly Illusions on Netflix (18:47) (but please, call me if you watch this and want to talk about the ending). Finally, Jack recommends a new documentary series, Q: Into the Storm on HBO Max (25:16), and Lindsay recommends an old series - The Girlfriend Experience on STARZ (29:15).
Welcome back for another week! Jill and Maddie, battling a mild case of Bieber Fever, discuss their frustrations over inequality at the March Madness weight rooms (24:45), security concerns at Pete Davidson's moms house (16:17) and how Aunt Becky possibly fell for the Operation Varsity Blues scam (18:40).Follow along @wetalkextensively (Instagram) and @talkextensively (Twitter). Have a question or topic you want us to cover? Send us an email @ wetalkextensively@gmail.com
Para esta semana, la selección incluye un documental nuevo en Netflix sobre corrupción en universidades y una gran película de Pablo Larraín que llegan al catálogo, documentales sobre Hollywood y más en Prime Video, además del arranque del FICUNAM con una amplia programación y de la retrospectiva de Wong Kar-Wai en mubi. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
We dig into Premiere Pick ‘Operation Varsity Blues', the college admissions scandal, and juicy tales from first-year uni in this episode with Alexei Toliopoulos and Gen Fricker.Tell us your wildest uni story at @netflixanz on Instagram and Twitter, or tag #thebigfilmbuffet.
On this episode of the RAISE Podcast, Brent is joined by Melissa Korn, reporter for The Wall Street Journal covering business education, workplace issues and the college-to-career pathway. Melissa was one of the journalists covering Operation Varsity Blues for The Wall Street Journal. She co-authored “UNACCEPTABLE: Privilege, Deceit and the Making of the College Admissions Scandal," which gave life to the largest college admissions scandal ever prosecuted by the department of Justice.About MelissaMelissa Korn writes about higher education for The Wall Street Journal.She joined Dow Jones in 2007, first writing breaking corporate news for the Dow Jones Newswires Spot News desk and then covering for-profit colleges, student lenders, alcohol and tobacco for the wire. She moved to The Journal in 2011 to cover business education, workplace issues and the college-to-career pathway.Melissa graduated from Cornell University with degrees in English and History and has a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.She is co-author of "UNACCEPTABLE: Privilege, Deceit and the Making of the College Admissions Scandal," published in 2020.
Spanning six states, eight years and 50+ indictments, “Operation Varsity Blues” was one of 2019's most talked-about scandals. The FBI investigation exposed a scheme in which CEOs, Hollywood celebrities and wealthy parents conspired to bribe students' ways into top universities, revealing an admissions system rife with corruption and inequality. After UCLA and UC Berkeley were named in the indictment, the California State Auditor launched a review into the UC's admissions practices. UC Santa Barbara was one of four campuses found to have inappropriately admitted students – including 22 applicants who posed as student athletes with the help of coaches and campus personnel. For today's episode, we're joined by Jorge Mercado, a tech editor at the Pacific Coast Business Times who served as the editor in chief of the Daily Nexus from 2018-2019. The former sports editor helps us break down the audit, the relationship between donors and athletic programs, and how the UC can improve going forward. Read more about the state audit at the links below: https://newspress.com/audit-uc-wrongly-admitted-students/ https://dailynexus.com/2020-10-16/state-audit-finds-uc-inappropriately-admitted-64-students-four-at-ucsb/
In this episode, I'm joined by Melissa Korn, a Wall Street Journal reporter who co-authored the newly released book Unacceptable: Privilege, Deceit & the Making of the College Admissions Scandal with her WSJ colleague Jennifer Levitz.One morning in March 2019, many of America's rich and powerful woke to three hundred FBI agents at their doors. Among them were actress Felicity Huffman, designer Mossimo Giannulli, business executives and storied college coaches, with one thing in common: They'd all worked with Rick Singer. Sought after by wealthy parents as a college whisperer, Singer helped children nationwide secure spots at the schools of their dreams--for some, by any means necessary. When his scheme crumbled, more than 50 people would be criminally charged. In Unacceptable, veteran Wall Street Journal reporters Korn and Levitz trace the rise and ruin of the largest scam of its kind ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice, dubbed Operation Varsity Blues. With unparalleled access to primary players in the case, they reveal how Singer cashed in on the ultimate status symbol: an acceptance letter at Stanford, Yale, Georgetown, or USC. They detail how the scheme exploited existing loopholes, with bribes and lies giving already privileged families an irresistible edge. In this episode, Melissa and I talked about how this story unfolded and what college athletic administrators should be on the lookout for in the future to prevent this from happening again.You can follow Melissa on Twitter @MelissaKorn. You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram to discuss further, ask additional questions or suggest future episodes.You can find more of my analysis on the business of college sports at BusinessofCollegeSports.com and Forbes.
We interrupted our regularly scheduled programming to focus an entire episode on the scandal rocking the admissions world involving wealthy parents, corrupt coaches and standardized test proctors, and a villain for the ages in the form of Rick Singer. Singer broke the law and lined his pockets with illicit funds for years before getting caught, at which point he promptly turned around and implicated a whole host of others, including, gasp, some celebrities. It's been nothing short of a tsunami in terms of media coverage, and we're, I suppose, not immune to the desire to share our own thoughts about what happened and why. But most importantly we want to help all of our listeners understand how best to move forward.
Jo Koy and the guys talk fashion, Netflix initially passing on Jo's comedy special, Bryan's media tour and multiple skin conditions, picking up embarrassing prescriptions from hot pharmacists, performing standup in coffee houses and fish restaurants, Joe Rogan's advice to Brendan on finances, Bryan considering Asian eye surgery, Benjamin Button, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump's side pieces, Operation Varsity Blues and much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.