Odyssey Fields | Staff Writer
Reed Saxon | Associated Press
The college admission process overwhelms high school seniors every year. Recently, however, it has come to light that dozens of wealthy parents utilized what they thought was the perfect strategy to get their children into some of the nation’s most prestigious colleges and universities.
Bribes.
More than 50 people — including actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman and fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli — were charged on Tuesday in connection to the college admissions scandal, according to Fox News. Among those charged were nine coaches employed by elite schools, two SAT/ACT administrators and 33 parents.
The suspects are said to have taken part in bribing coaches to influence college admission decisions. Parents paid up to $6.5 million for guaranteed admission into colleges. These criminal allegations go back to as far as 2011, reported the FBI.
“I don’t know, it makes me think the college admissions process is not accurate and people don’t get in by fair choice,” said Amika Niles, a sophomore psychology major here at HU.
According to CNN, the colleges involved in the scandal include: University of California, Yale, Stanford, University of Southern California, Wake Forest and Georgetown. These institutions are now looking over the applicants who are connected to the scandal.
“It shows how the education system is corrupted and based on gaining capital, rather the important expansion of knowledge,” said Jourdyn Grandison, a sophomore journalism major.
After appearing in court, Felicity Huffman paid a $250,000 bond. Huffman is expected to appear in court March 29, reports the Associated Press. Loughlin was released on bond at $1 million last Wednesday.
Hamptonians remember what it was like to receive college acceptance letters. Concerns regarding the application process leaves some students wondering what collegiate institutions stand for, leaving some students upset and questioning the college admissions process as a whole.
All the suspects who face charges have a possibility of receiving time in prison. Federal authorities claim the scandal to be one of the biggest investigated admissions scandal investigated by the U.S Justice Department.
“It is a shame that parents of wealth are willing to give these large amounts of money to people to guarantee their children a spot in a university when there are other kids who worked extremely hard on their own to get into a college of their dreams,” said Victoria Joseph, a sophomore communicative science disorders major. “Money shouldn’t determine acceptance into any university; the process should be fair regardless of how much money one has.”
Lori Loughlin (left) and Felicity Huffman | Associated Press
The Hampton Script 