Written By: Madison Jones
Staff Reporter
In somewhat recent events, it was brought to the attention of the public that more than 30 parents and 20 college administration members were using bribery to get students into the school. This has been happening since 2011 and only this year was it exposed. Each bribe consisted of at least a couple thousand dollars.
It is no secret, school is stressful. The prospect of college is stressful. Figuring out what college to go to is stressful. For many families, there is pride and lineage attached to this decision. Perhaps that is where this scandal has come from. Whatever the case, it is inappropriate and dishonorable.
Gregory Abbott (founder and chairman of International Dispensing Corporation) and his wife Marcia Abbott paid $125,000 to change his daughters SAT scores. Lori Loughlin (well known actress) and husband Mossimo Giannulli (fashion designer), are accused of paying $500,000 to get their two daughters guaranteed admission into USC. Manuel Henriquez (founder, chairman, and CEO of Hercules Capital) and wife Elizabeth Henriquez are accused of paying approximately $25,000,000 to ensure college acceptance for their daughter, after she cheated on her SAT.
These people are all very influential, which makes it all the more upsetting that these individuals, as pairs and partners, would make the decision to abuse the power they have worked for or have been given. It is hard to imagine these children even know what they have been handed.
With working so hard at school, the ACT, jobs after school, and social lives, high school is obviously no easy feat. These kids were handed the opportunity to get high rate educations and the reputation that accompanies attending the schools in question without the work that makes everything worthwhile.
Flipping to the other side for a moment, the schools that allowed this to happen are selfish and self-serving. To some certain extent, every school, especially when at the college level, is self-serving. They preach diversity and cultured campuses, being biased in choosing students to enter and pursue based on grades and ethnic background. As much of a cliche as it has been made in to, the more you are a part of a minority, the higher your chances of getting into the college you want.
These colleges and administrators, however, have taken this to a whole other level, looking more at money than equal opportunities or even the minority. In the selfish sight of those who were brought into this scandal, people who actually deserve to go to college at these schools have been pushed aside, their spots having been taken by privileged children whose parents paid for college.
In the end, if one searches enough, anything can be justified. However, no matter how you look at this scandal, the bottom line is selfishness. Colleges wanted money and parents wanted the best for their children at the best schools. In this instance, you can however blame a parent for trying. While understandably working for the best for their children, they are simultaneously teaching them how to use money to buy situations and things you want. Life does not work that way and one day, these kids will be in for a rude awakening when they realize hard work goes with cold, hard money.
