Cheating has been engraved in our culture for centuries. People in the public eye, politicians, your neighbour, even your best friend—odds are that someone you know has cheated on something, somewhere at some point.
It’s unavoidable. We’re a self-centred society which wants the best for ourselves. Sometimes, that involves cheating to get ahead. But, at what point does cheating to enhance your situation go from harmless to hurtful?
This past week, news of the FBI’s “Operation Varsity Blues” broke, exposing a multi-million-dollar scheme of parents cheating to get their kids into prestigious universities. It’s being called the biggest college cheating scandal ever, as 50 people have contributed over $25 million to cheat on SATs and bribe college administrators.
Celebrities such as Lori Loughlin, who you’re likely to know as Aunt Becky from Full House, and Academy Award-nominated actress Felicity Huffman are two of the most prominent faces of the scandal.
Loughlin transitioned from Full House to the big house when the FBI dropped charges related to the allegation that she and her fashion-designer husband paid $500,000 to get their two daughters into the University of Southern California (USC).
Her daughters have reportedly both dropped out of USC amid fear that they will be bullied over how they entered the school, after intense online backlash and mockery.
College admission scandals are nothing new. Ivy league schools have been accused of rigging the applicant pool for years, but this time, it’s different. The backlash can be felt around the world and begs the question: will there be change?
Students across the U.S. are outraged that the world’s elite have been stealing college spots from more qualified students. But, this is another example of how the rich run the world.
Despite major news coverage and backlash towards the actions of those involved in Operation Varsity Blues, it’s unlikely the system will change. One way or another—legal or not—rich white people are going to do what they have to do for their kids to succeed.
Although the outright illegal option of paying someone to write or alter your kid’s SAT score may not be used as frequently, the rich will continue to make large donations to top-tier universities. This may or may not (they always do) involve an acceptance letter coming a few weeks later. Jared Kushner, I’m looking at you.
Everyone wants the best for their kids, but the harsh reality is that the pathway to success comes with a hefty price tag which only a few can afford. This system creates a harmful cycle of continuously allowing the rich to stay rich, while under-privileged students struggle to get the education they deserve.
The world of American college applications is just as elitist as the rest of the country, and because many of the people who run these institutions are rich white people who also bribed their way in, they aren’t likely to change on their own.
This scandal only brought to light an issue which has been around for a while and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Children of wealthy parents will continue to be unjustly advantaged—all while leaving the deserving students to suffer on the side.
