Lori Laughlin & Felicity Huffman BUSTED! (1 Viewer)

[GroveDiesel]

That half million was a drop in the bucket for her potential as an "influencer" or whatever they call those people.  Her dad had a major clothing brand, she already had some sephoria line (whatever that is).  I'm sure her parents had her on the Kardashian path, which could equate to BILLIONS.  

She had already made $3M with deals with companies like Amazon where she pimped Amazon on her vlog for ordering stuff to setup your dorm, using Amazon Video, etc.

 

[Epic Problem]

Neither per se. But it also rises to the level of a “who cares” to me.

yet you have a 'power to them' mentality about it? Odd take and these people had power and abused it. 

 

[Tom Servo]

Are those your rowing shoes?

Oliva Jade’s IG getting bombed by people criticizing her for faking her way into college. 

 

[rockaction]

Ugh. I've been having half-waking dreams tonight about this #### and all your stupid avatars were in it. 

It was weird, but for the most part, you all acquitted yourselves well. 

This is a loathsome thing with loathsome results. I feel awfully for kids that worked so hard (my niece, step niece, nephew, and others in my family are this age) and didn't get into the school of their choice. To find out that it is rigged as badly as I thought it was is just disgusting. I guess this rises to more than a level of "who cares" for me precisely because the move towards meritocracy isn't even close to complete, and this is just a stark reminder. 

Ugh.  

 

[roadkill1292]

This is another reason -- not the only one by far and not even the biggest one -- that class mobility has slowed so much in the US.

Private universities need to be rethinking their legacy admissions policies. Talk about perpetuating the good old boys club. Those are the people who eventually enter politics and fight every change that benefits the working man.

Good to see more and more of you entering the "end amateurism for college athletes" fight on the right side. That's been a long time coming on this board.

 

[Capella]

DonThank you to the people here who reached out to me about this story...

* No, I am not one of the people implicated in this story.

* No, I never had any professional contact with anyone who did.  (I did meet Lori Laughlin once briefly at a Hallmark Channel event; our conversation was about the movie “RAD”)

* Yes, I was aware of scams like these.

* Yes, when I worked in test prep/admissions counseling, I was approached about “side door” admissions ideas on many occasions.  Like, a lot.

* No, I didn’t take them up on it.  

* Yes, it was tempting to take money from people with more money than sense.  

* IMO, the only reason why these people got caught was because they tried to launder the money through a 501c3.  These colleges don’t care about being a pure meritocracy.  If they can bring in a chunk of revenue-generating students to make their seven-figure donors happy and create new seven-figure donors, that’s an acceptable cost of doing business even if it freezes out working-class families.

* Yes, I am typing this while on campus at Yale, waiting for an info session and campus tour to start.  My high-school daughter is interested in applying here.  I am curious if any Yale Admissions people address this week’s news.  

As you were...

Wait GB! We have college hoops to talk about!

 

[rockaction]

Thank you to the people here who reached out to me about this story...

BD what up?! Good luck to you and your daughter regarding Yale. 

Been a while...hope things are cool.  

 

[Hot Diggity Dog]

The fixer in this, Singer, is a friend of a local guy that has been trying to get us as a client so he can help our daughter get recruited in her sport.  Yes she does actually play it.  Of course he claims to be shocked but I don't know,  I guess so.  What crosses my mind is if people are bribing people to get in like this, what is going on in the margins for other schools?  Like maybe your a coach and got two kids similar talent bring on the kid whose parents leave a package on your desk?  Knowing the competitiveness of some of these parents I think some would do it no doubt.  Certainly when you consider you have spent 3k to 10k a year for the last 5 plus years to get your kid in a position to be recruited like this.  Amazing what goes on in these "lesser" sports.

 

[T J]

As someone who worked his ### off to get into and through college, it matters to me.

Good for you and so did I and it doesn’t.

 

[glvsav37]

Seriously. With so many hoochies making a living off social media, you would think it becomes a major at some point. 

ehem.....

 

[T J]

yet you have a 'power to them' mentality about it? Odd take and these people had power and abused it. 

It’s a figure of speech, meaning to me, who cares. They didn’t abuse their power. They used the means at their disposal to benefit their children. Big difference in my opinion.   I don’t find my take odd at all. But thanks for sharing your take on my take. 

 

[Buckychudd]

It’s a figure of speech, meaning to me, who cares. They didn’t abuse their power. They used the means at their disposal to benefit their children. Big difference in my opinion.   I don’t find my take odd at all. But thanks for sharing your take on my take. 

They were paying bribes.  How is this not an abuse of power?

 

[Scott Tenorman]

Trojans should steer into the skin and just introduce a Looking Hot on the Internet Studies program.

Seriously. With so many hoochies making a living off social media, you would think it becomes a major at some point. 

I know people have always been narcissistic, but we are achieving new levels these days.  USA! USA! USA!

 

[chet]

It’s a figure of speech, meaning to me, who cares. They didn’t abuse their power. They used the means at their disposal to benefit their children. Big difference in my opinion.   I don’t find my take odd at all. But thanks for sharing your take on my take. 

You don't see a problem with someone paying to alter their child's SAT test?  

 

[irish eyes]

It’s a figure of speech, meaning to me, who cares. They didn’t abuse their power. They used the means at their disposal to benefit their children. Big difference in my opinion.   I don’t find my take odd at all. But thanks for sharing your take on my take. 

You don't see a problem with someone paying to alter their child's SAT test?  

I hope they all go to jail for a long time. Used their means to benefit their children?? You're kidding right. This is why kids and young adults suck these days and dont want to do anything.  Because mommy and daddy want their little a@@hole kids to be coddled by everyone. 

 

[Epic Problem]

They didn’t abuse their power.

Arguably the most incorrect statement in the history of this board. And that's saying a lot.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

i live in south OC, and parents are f'ing nuts here.  u8 soccer is treated like the premier league.  SERIOUS business people!!

i know a dude that teaches 5th? grade, at punahou, obama's school in HI.  parents give him envelopes of cash

 

[Sheriff Bart]

Hey guys you don't spend much time in the dark side, aka PSF, so good on you for not knowing TJ is a troll.  

 

[Charlie Steiner]

They were paying bribes.  How is this not an abuse of power?

Forgive me for jumping in here, but isn't more correct to say the ones receiving the bribes are the ones abusing power?  I don't really think of Lori Laughlin or Felicity Huffman as having  any power other than what their money brings.  And at least in this situation, they aren't the ones in power; if they were, they wouldn't have to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars.

 

[T J]

Forgive me for jumping in here, but isn't more correct to say the ones receiving the bribes are the ones abusing power?  I don't really think of Lori Laughlin or Felicity Huffman as having  any power other than what their money brings.  And at least in this situation, they aren't the ones in power; if they were, they wouldn't have to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Pretty much this.

 

[Epic Problem]

Forgive me for jumping in here, but isn't more correct to say the ones receiving the bribes are the ones abusing power?  I don't really think of Lori Laughlin or Felicity Huffman as having  any power other than what their money brings.  And at least in this situation, they aren't the ones in power; if they were, they wouldn't have to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Not sure about you, but I consider money equal to power 

 

[T J]

You don't see a problem with someone paying to alter their child's SAT test?  

This I do. Yes. Paying an admissions guy to allow an otherwise unqualified student in to a college I don’t. It’s a meh, who cares, to me.

 

[Buckychudd]

Not sure about you, but I consider money equal to power 

Pretty much this.

 

[Epic Problem]

You don't see a problem with someone paying to alter their child's SAT test?  

This I do. Yes. Paying an admissions guy to allow an otherwise unqualified student in to a college I don’t. It’s a meh, who cares, to me.

You see no similarities in these two actions? 

 

[Buckychudd]

This I do. Yes. Paying an admissions guy to allow an otherwise unqualified student in to a college I don’t. It’s a meh, who cares, to me.

Ok so where is the line for you if there is one?

Let's say the same student staples $100 to their test for an A...is that ok?

Or they're n a job interview with an HR person and I slide $500 across the desk and say make sure I get the job....is that ok?

Or they get pulled over for speeding and hand the cop $200 along with my drivers license and a wink....is that ok?

Do we want separate results for people who can pay for it?

 

[Charlie Steiner]

Not sure about you, but I consider money equal to power 

Buying power, maybe, but there are other types of power, and to me the phrase, 'abuse of power' is not equal to buying anything you want, which is what they attempted to do in this situation.  

 

[T J]

You see no similarities in these two actions? 

There are varying levels of similarities. Similar in that it was outside the normal process and as a result someone gained an advantage? Yes. Otherwise, I personally think they’re quite dissimilar.

 

[T J]

Ok so where is the line for you if there is one?

Let's say the same student staples $100 to their test for an A...is that ok?

Or they're n a job interview with an HR person and I slide $500 across the desk and say make sure I get the job....is that ok?

Or they get pulled over for speeding and hand the cop $200 along with my drivers license and a wink....is that ok?

Do we want separate results for people who can pay for it?

No, yes, yes (if the cop takes it, good to go) It carries risks. 

I think in life it’s worth playing outside the lines sometimes. Opinion only here, but I believe sometimes you have to do what’s best for you and yours to get ahead sometimes. Sucks, but life ain’t fair all the time. Plenty of unfair stuff has happened to me. I know that for sure but I also accept that it’s just how it goes. 

 

[T J]

This I do. Yes. Paying an admissions guy to allow an otherwise unqualified student in to a college I don’t. It’s a meh, who cares, to me.

And let me clarify - by me saying who cares, I’m not endorsing it, but i’m not offended by it in the least either. I think some of you think not being outraged = implicit endorsement. They’re different.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

And let me clarify - by me saying who cares, I’m not endorsing it, but i’m not offended by it in the least either. I think some of you think not being outraged = implicit endorsement. They’re different.

You're in the wrong century with that reasoning, GB...

 

[T J]

You're in the wrong century with that reasoning, GB...

Wrong board too.

 

[prefontaine]

Private universities need to be rethinking their legacy admissions policies. Talk about perpetuating the good old boys club. Those are the people who eventually enter politics and fight every change that benefits the working man.

Legacy policies are problematic in general.

Rice's original charter specifically stated the University was for whites. That charter wasn't changed until 1963. Quite obviously if you are giving preference to legacy and all legacies are white, you have created a proxy for race. 

 

[Buckychudd]

No, yes, yes (if the cop takes it, good to go) It carries risks. 

I think in life it’s worth playing outside the lines sometimes. Opinion only here, but I believe sometimes you have to do what’s best for you and yours to get ahead sometimes. Sucks, but life ain’t fair all the time. Plenty of unfair stuff has happened to me. I know that for sure but I also accept that it’s just how it goes. 

Ok interesting.  I don't agree because I believe this leads to a corrupt, unjust society that will inevitably lead to upheaval and revolution but I understand your stance now and it's unlikely we'll agree.

 

[parasaurolophus]

Unreal.

It is hard to look worse than the people that committed these bribes. But some people are trying really hard.

 

[Epic Problem]

Ok interesting.  I don't agree because I believe this leads to a corrupt, unjust society that will inevitably lead to upheaval and revolution but I understand your stance now and it's unlikely we'll agree.

When it comes to TJ, this is always a sound course of action

 

[Epic Problem]

Unreal.

It is hard to look worse than the people that committed these bribes. But some people are trying really hard.

 A little bit of hyperbole in there, just like most class action suits probably contain, but they're right to pursue this. Especially when a student has to fork over an application fee to even be considered

 

[Buckychudd]

I know there has been speculation that they wrote off the bribes as charitably donations on their tax returns, has that been confirmed anywhere?

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Hey guys you don't spend much time in the dark side, aka PSF, so good on you for not knowing TJ is a troll.  

And not even a good one.  Tries too hard.  About as subtle as a air-raid siren.

 

[Capella]

This thread reminds me of the Breaking Bad thread when somebody said (non-ironically) “did Saul really even commit any crimes?”  

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

This thread reminds me of the Breaking Bad thread when somebody said (non-ironically) “did Saul really even commit any crimes?”  

"You two wanna go stick your wangs in a hornets' nest, it's a free country. But how come I always gotta get sloppy seconds, huh?"

 

[Punxsutawney Phil]

She had already made $3M with deals with companies like Amazon where she pimped Amazon on her vlog for ordering stuff to setup your dorm, using Amazon Video, etc.

I'd like to remake that Amazon video with Cartman commentating "hey look at me I'm a big fan spoiled * that cheated to get into college.  That's ok I'm only here for the parties and getting *"

 

[Gr00vus]

This isn't evidence of class warfare, right? I mean, we're constantly told class warfare is something only poor people and socialists envision.

 

[Gr00vus]

Buying power, maybe, but there are other types of power, and to me the phrase, 'abuse of power' is not equal to buying anything you want, which is what they attempted to do in this situation.  

In a capitalistic society, money is power. If these people didn't have the money to bribe their kids' way in to these schools, it's highly unlikely those kids would have been accepted to those schools. It's not the only power in this equation - the people taking the bribes who can get kids in when they shouldn't be there have another kind of power. But in the end, the people taking the bribes are also subject to the power of money - otherwise the bribes wouldn't be appealing to them.

 

[xulf]

Payments to get kids into schools has been going on forever.  I never thought it would go so far as manipulating standardized tests.

But, clearly, if there is a wing of a school named after someone from donations, they have carte blanche of getting their kids into that school.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

In a capitalistic society, money is power. If these people didn't have the money to bribe their kids' way in to these schools, it's highly unlikely those kids would have been accepted to those schools. It's not the only power in this equation - the people taking the bribes who can get kids in when they shouldn't be there have another kind of power. But in the end, the people taking the bribes are also subject to the power of money - otherwise the bribes wouldn't be appealing to them.

If the officials in charge of admitting students don't take bribes, parents can't buy their kids way into school. There's also power in saying 'no'.

 

[Capella]

@bobvulfov

ADMISSIONS OFFICE: ur child was not accepted to our college

FELICITY HUFFMAN: then i will have to do a crime

ADMISSIONS OFFICE: u can just donate some money & we'll let em in

FELICITY HUFFMAN: a crime i shall do

ADMISSIONS OFFICE: just make a donation

FELICITY HUFFMAN: crime time

 

[Gr00vus]

If the officials in charge of admitting students don't take bribes, parents can't buy their kids way into school. There's also power in saying 'no'.

But they did - because they are beholden to the power of money. I imagine some were approached who weren't beholden to the power of money (or at least not to this extent), and they did say no. But in the end, in these cases, the power of money was wielded to commit these improprieties. And why? So that the beneficiaries (the kids and their families) could have an even faster track to become even more wealthy and therefore powerful in the future.

 

[RUSF18]

This thread reminds me of the Breaking Bad thread when somebody said (non-ironically) “did Saul really even commit any crimes?”  

I've used that reference probably 20 times across different threads on here and always thought that person was talking about Walt. Assuming your memory isn't off, thank you for teaching me something. And if your memory is off, thank you just for reminding me of that amazing day.

 

[Capella]

I've used that reference probably 20 times across different threads on here and always thought that person was talking about Walt. Assuming your memory isn't off, thank you for teaching me something. And if your memory is off, thank you just for reminding me of that amazing day.

One of my favorite quotes here. It was definitely Saul. What makes it funnier is I’m pretty sure Woz asked it. 

 

[Sinn Fein]

This irritates me much more than the original scandal:

The first lawsuits targeting elite universities and individuals charged by federal prosecutors in a sweeping college admissions scandal were filed by a student and parent on Wednesday in California.

The parent, Jennifer Kay Toy, claimed in San Francisco Superior Court that her son Joshua — with a 4.2 grade-point average — was not admitted to some schools because of the "despicable actions" of parents implicated in the scandal.

***

In addition to Toy's civil complaint, a Stanford student filed what she's hoping will become a class-action lawsuit against the school and all the other implicated universities, claiming their degrees will not be "worth as much as" before.