October 26, 2024 6:30 a.m. Pacific Time
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Seeking donations, USC admitted wealthy kids as walk-on athletes
It is difficult to get into USC, which has become one of the toughest universities in America. Only about 9% of undergraduate applicants are accepted.
But until recently, there was another path available to parents with money and influence. As the Times’ Harriet Ryan and Matt Hamilton reported this week, the University of Southern California holds far lower academic expectations for wealthy and well-connected families, admitting them with an 85% to 90% acceptance rate. secretly provided an alternative route to
Their investigation delves deep into the secret admissions subcommittee that processed the applications. Internal records show that University of Southern California fundraisers expected large donations from families of hospitalized patients, but in some cases became furious when the funds did not materialize.
Here’s more to know:
USC said the problem is in the past and that it established new safeguards in 2020. “This misconduct involved a limited number of athletics personnel who are no longer affiliated with the university. We are committed to ensuring that this matter is in the past and to ensure it does not happen again.” I’m glad we learned from the problem.” This highlights long-standing concerns about USC’s admissions and how it is funded. When the college admissions scandal broke, more than half of the parents accused of bribery conspiracy were trying to get their children into the University of Southern California. The Varsity Blues continue to cast a shadow. One of the parents accused in the scandal is suing USC for the return of a $100,000 donation related to his son’s admission and $75 million in damages, alleging fraud and deception by the university. Ta. USC isn’t alone. In 2019, the Times reported on a case in which the UCLA athletics team took in an athlete whose parents had offered to donate to the school. A 2020 audit found that the University of California “incorrectly designated” at least 22 applicants as athletic freshmen from 2013 to 2019 “because of donations or favors from closely related family members.” did.
This week’s biggest news
Voters cast early votes in Columbus, Ohio on October 8th.
(Paul Vernon/Associated Press)
What is Harris and Trump’s final battleground state strategy?
Harris and Trump are taking advantage of voters’ fears in a final bid to gain support in key states where the race is looking crowded. Nearly 30 million Americans have already voted. But experts say early voting numbers can’t predict who will win. President Trump says he will carry out the “largest deportation” in U.S. history. Experts say that’s unlikely. Convicted on 34 felonies, accused of sexual abuse, and twice impeached, President Trump still feels breathtakingly close to taking back the White House.
LA’s progressive ‘godfather’ Gascón struggles to keep his job as prosecutor
Los Angeles Township Atty. George Gascon has trailed his opponent, former federal prosecutor Nathan Hockman, in recent polls, and much of the incumbent’s support from 2020 has disappeared. Mr. Gascón took office at a time when the public wanted criminal justice reform. But he now faces voters concerned about public safety, even though crime is on the decline on several measures.
Other celebrities also accused of participating in assault at Sean Diddy Combs party
A federal lawsuit filed this week alleges that when she was 13 years old, she was raped by Combs and a male celebrity, identified only as Celebrity A, while a female celebrity, identified as Celebrity B, watched. There is. Combs’ alleged sexual abuse of women was aided and abetted by a complex and vast network of perpetrators, according to a Times review of court filings and interviews with current and former business associates. It became clear.
Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela will be remembered by fans as the World Series begins in Los Angeles
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This week’s must-read
(Zhou Zihui/University of California, Berkeley)
A study by Berkeley scientists found that half a pound of this powder can remove the same amount of CO₂ from the air as a tree. Scientists say curbing carbon dioxide emissions is necessary to prevent the most dire consequences of climate change.
“We have to take in carbon dioxide from the air. There’s no way around it,” said Omar Yagi, the study’s senior author. “Even if we stop emitting CO2, we still have to remove it from the atmosphere. We have no other choice.”
More great reads
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for your weekend
Dodgers pitcher Gavin Stone said In-N-Out Burger, the iconic California burger chain, is his favorite restaurant in Los Angeles.
(Mariah Tauger/Los Angeles Times)
going out
🧢 Enjoy your meal like your favorite Dodger. Here are 15 L.A. restaurants loved by 2024 World Series players. 🌆 LA’s Chinatown helped reinvent Southern California. Now, it’s reinventing itself with the energy of a new generation of Asian American creators. 📿 In Conclave, the quest to elect a new pope takes a less-than-sacred path. 🎥 In “Union,” labor movement organizations score points against Amazon. Critics have written that it is a complex and essential documentary.
During your stay
How well did you follow this week’s news? Take our quiz
(Times staff and Telegraph photo)
Which team did the Dodgers advance to their 22nd World Series with a 10-5 win in their home stadium?Plus 9 other questions from our weekly news quiz.
Have a great weekend! From the Essential California team
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