#196 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Monday November 15)
Good morning,
USC IN THE NEWS…AGAIN…
There is a mantra repeated over the years by the USC administration and other Trojan faithful that “The Los Angeles Times has it in for USC.” With respect to its seemingly unending reporting on the negative, it was hard not to fall into the trap of blaming USC’s bad press on bad PR and a local newspaper out to sell more papers with salacious stories of a venerated local institution. Then the really troublesome news kept coming in.
Now, it seems that The Los Angeles Times has good company in The New York Times, which in its California Today section has an entire article entitled “U.S.C. News.” That article does not herald its academic rankings, nor its prodigious fundraising (a subject of considerable pride during the “Nikias Years”). Rather, the article highlights three pieces of news from just this last week:
Yet another sentencing in the “Varsity Blues” scandal, at which USC was at the center—this time six weeks meted out to a Calabasas parent accused of paying for his daughter’s admission to USC. By the way, has any prosecutor suggested that USC pay as a fine all the “dirty money” paid for these various purchased admissions?
The troubling news that USC provided Karen Bass, at the time a sitting Congresswoman, a full scholarship to the University. While there appears no wrongdoing from Ms. Bass, a leading mayoral candidate, it is hard to imagine that were she employed somewhere besides the U.S. Congress, such a scholarship would have been granted. This sort of behavior is indicative of a university constantly trying to purchase influence.
U.S.C. apparently now has become a “degree factory,” hiring a for-profit firm to market a Master’s in Social Work program to prospective students. This program, along with other on-line degree options, places U.S.C. firmly in the circle of Arizona State and for-profit institutions seeking market share from the lucrative on-line (and low overhead) business model. The Wall Street Journal reports that these programs have saddled students with debt, with the promise of attractive jobs that were not forthcoming at graduation. The “take” for the for-profit company partnered with U.S.C.? They receive 60% of the tuition dollars.
Given that U.S.C. recently signed an agreement with the Panchengo Indian Casino to be the “official casino and resort” of the Trojans, perhaps the university should offer the option either of a Master’s in Social Work or a discounted stake for an evening of gambling. It is unclear which option would be less economically advantageous to the student.
I think one can now safely conclude that “messaging” and “reporting bias” were not the problem over these many years. The problem has been with the institution itself. And yet, not a word from the Board and the Board has yet to release of the oft-touted O’Melveny and Gibson Dunn reports regarding earlier scandals. It may be easier to pry Donald Trump’s financial statements out of his hands than these reports from U.S.C.
I WAS JUICED!
When dealing with my persistent back pain a few weeks ago, I was put on a daily steroid dose.
As many of you know, I am one of the very few of our generation never to have done any drugs. Really. My drug of choice was scotch on the rocks. I do not judge those who did drugs; I was just always fearful of their effects and I was a definite rule follower.
So my experience with steroids is my first challenge with drugs. Let me just say that they definitely “pumped me up…” I imagine this perhaps is what being on speed might be like. The common effects steroids include:
Feelings of elation
High “type A” activity level
Talking more
Greater hunger
Less need for sleep
Anxiety
Anyone who thinks I needed help with any of this, raise your hand… You’re right; I have these categories covered already!
Sometimes steroids will make someone more aggressive. I am happy to report that I experienced no desire to punch anyone in the face…
Have a good day,
Glenn
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