Not being stereotyped or anything - I was surprised that no folks with Russian sounding names or Indian sounding names had so far been implicated as recipients or participants in this fraud.
Well, I don't have to be surprised any more.
The actions of Dvorskiy, Singer and all the rest of these people are a absolute disgrace. My 11th grade daughter has worked incredibly hard and done so well in preparing for college, but will a seat be stolen from her next year by some rich family with no conscience or morals?
The American college system is structurally corrupt and dollar-dependent. No amount of simple vigilance or after the fact investigation is going to deter the influence of money and the moneyed, the perpetuation of privilege.
Instead of policing the rich, let's tax them. Tax the uber-rich and the highly affluent and use all that obscene excess to bolster and expand existing public universities and colleges. Build new regional national public universities East, West, Mid-West and South designed to rival the Ivies. Direct federal research funding to them and existing public schools; keep their agendas as meritocratic and inclusive as humanly possible. Strongly support trade schools and community colleges, as well.
The US system might then begin to resemble the far more equitable yet fully competent educational institutions characteristic of other so-called advanced nations.
2
Regarding the college admissions-test cheating scheme, and the exact mechanics thereof, the article states:
" ...you may be wondering how that would actually work. My colleague, Jennifer Medina, recently went to a West Hollywood school to find out."
But your colleague simply leaves us with this:
" ...(school director) Dvorskiy ensured that students could be given answers from the proctor."
So, they were given an answer sheet to copy off of? Or help with specific questions? Or maybe the proctor 'corrected' their tests later? Were the students complicit?
Does 'your colleague' know the answers to these questions? Your readers don't.
3
The philosophy of neoliberalism is that we are all economic units, pursuing our respective interests in an ever changing marketplace.
Government regulation gets in the way of this free flowing exchange and show should be limited or done away with completely. Ultimately we will fulfill our fullest sense of freedom through unfettered economic exchange.
In other words, everything is a product, everything is for sale, including college admissions and your status and worth is based on your standing in this marketplace. Our chickens have simply come home to roost.
3
"Students tend to know which sites have inattentive proctors or lax policies."
And, if wealthy and/or well-connected, their parents may tend to know which sites have especially *attentive* proctors.
I think of Mrs Wilson's line in Gosford Park as performed by Helen Mirren: "What gift do you think a good servant has that separates them from the others? It's the gift of anticipation. And I'm a good servant. I'm better than good. I'm the best. I'm the perfect servant. I know when they'll be hungry and the food is ready. I know when they'll be tired and the bed is turned down. I know it before they know it themselves."
1