From Devoted Reader Ashley comes this tale of cheating with style - and lots and lot of of Old Money (in the US, having rich grandparents qualifies for that):
When they named a University of Missouri sports arena after their daughter, billionaire Wal-Mart heirs Nancy and Bill Laurie pronounced themselves "very proud parents." But this week, they found themselves stripping Paige's name from the building - after allegations that she paid a roommate $20,000 to do most of her coursework at the University of Southern California.
Elizabeth Paige Laurie, 22, graduated from USC this year. But her first-semester roommate, Elena Martinez, said Paige hired her to write her papers, prepare her oral reports and even exchange e-mail with her professors in nearly every class she took for four years.
Nearly every class? Good Lord. I can understand students who buckle to the pressures of one tough professor, but if you're not going to do anything the entire four years, why go to school?
Meanwhile, USC has opened an investigation into the alleged cheating. In 25 years in academia, vice president for student affairs Michael Jackson said, "I've never heard of possible cheating of this magnitude."
Martinez said this week she never intended the fraud to go so far. She helped Paige with a paper first semester of their freshman year, she said, and happily pocketed $25 as thanks. But soon, she said, Paige was asking her to take over almost all her schoolwork - even after Martinez dropped out for financial reasons.
Martinez said Paige continued sending her books and assignments - and e-mails critiquing the work she sent back.
"I rarely got a bad grade, but if I did, she'd say 'This was horrible.' She was pretty picky," Martinez said. "She was a very demanding, expect-the-best boss." She said she collected about $20,000 over four years.
Only $5K a year for someone who's broke and doing all your schoolwork - and forced to adhere to high standards, to boot? The drive to get the most product for the least amount of money must run in the Wal-Mart heir's veins.
Posted by kswygert at November 30, 2004 10:47 AM