University of Scandal, Corruption? USC at core of bribe plot
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Roy Nwaisser has four degrees from the University of Southern California and is a superfan of its storied football squad — he hasn't missed a home or away game in 27 years.
But his devotion has been tested by a series of scandals culminating with the school's starring role in a massive college admissions bribery case that is the latest disgrace threatening to tarnish USC's hard-fought reputation as an academic, as well as athletic, powerhouse.
Hours after that news broke Tuesday, Nwaisser turned down a request to speak at an alumni fundraiser in Nevada.
"I can't in good conscience promote the university until they clean up their act," Nwaisser wrote to the group. "If people want to donate their money they should give it to institutions with fewer scandals and less corruption."
It's been a bruising two years for the university in the heart of Los Angeles. The president who helped boost the school's endowment by raising $7 billion stepped down amid investigations into a medical school dean accused of smoking methamphetamine with a woman who overdosed, and reports the school ignored complaints of widespread sexual misconduct by the longtime campus gynecologist.
Meantime, an assistant men's basketball coach pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a wide-ranging FBI probe of corruption in college hoops.
This week's announcement of federal criminal charges over admissions cheating also targeted prestigious schools such as Stanford, Georgetown and Yale, but no other institution was implicated as much as USC.
Prosecutors say wealthy parents either paid bribes to have a college counselor rig standardized tests or get their children admitted as recruits of sports they didn't play.
More than half the 32 parents charged were trying to bribe their...