USC students linked to admissions scandal can't enroll in classes, get transcripts, university says

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

84. Interesting.

In other cases, the student applied legitimately to the University, submitted their legitimate high school transcripts and test scores and submitted the application with the essays etc. But what these students didn't know was that their parent(s) had contracted with Singer to submit an Athlete Recruitment form to a person at the University Athletic Dept who was being bribed and then there would be falsification of their qualifications. These students didn't know that had been done or submitted on their behalf. Those students didn't knowingly participate in a fraud and when they signed their applications were not committing fraud. Their parents did and they didn't know.

Interesting. I had not thought of that.

But I still wonder if a student was offered an Athletic scholarship or place on a team as part of their admissions, would they not have to agree to accepts or participate. Again would this not require their signature rather than their parents or someone else’s? If they had not been part of the fraudulent application, they still would have to accept knowing that they had not applied for the team/activity/scholarship. Would that acceptance not be a fraudulent act in and of itself?

One of the things about my sons’ college experience that is difficult for me as a parent is that the boys are making commitments as adults. Commitments which we as parents have little or nothing to do with, and in many cases no knowledge of. FERPA protects their information privacy, even from parents.

Each case is different and the Universities should look and investigate each case on a case by case basis to determine if the student knowingly committed fraud. The ones who did know should be expelled, but I don't believe the kids who didn't know should be punished because of what their parents did without their knowledge.

I agree it is not right to punish one generation for the crimes of the preceding ones. These young adults who benefited from the bribes/fraud, at some point must have agreed in some way as the schools would require their signatures. If they can find students that did not sign off on something fraudulent then perhaps they are ignorant, maybe even innocent.

Or so it seems to me.