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For various forms of criminal mischief…

… New York’s St. John’s University is certainly giving the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and the University of Miami, a run for their money.

First there was this sadsack, who came to his court hearing in a bright red sweatshirt with ST JOHN’S UNIVERSITY emblazoned on it in huge letters, in case anyone was wondering what university molded him into an embezzler. He got the Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award in 2008.

Now there’s a former dean, on trial for embezzling (am I the only person who loves the word embezzle?) a million dollars via expense account chicanery (chicanery’s good too — sounds like the name of a spice).

The final paragraph of the New York Times article about her could only have been written in America.

… Ms. Chang’s home … has seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, a gym, a sauna and a Jacuzzi tub. Ken Winslow, 74, a next-door neighbor, said that other than the Mercedes-Benz Ms. Chang drove, she did not appear to live ostentatiously.

Margaret Soltan, September 16, 2010 8:55AM
Posted in: the university

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5 Responses to “For various forms of criminal mischief…”

  1. MattF Says:

    J.K. Galbraith (the elder) once noted that embezzlement increases the GNP, since multiple individuals report ownership of the same pot of money. He called this increment “the bezzle”.

  2. Margaret Soltan Says:

    Wonderful, MattF! Thanks.

  3. Polish Peter Says:

    Apropos yesterday’s post on the Western Washington fellow and now this item, it’s looking like international studies administration can be a pretty good racket, especially when the university trusts you with a credit card and when it’s combined with the pursuit of external money.

  4. theprofessor Says:

    Polish Peter, some quite junior administrators here have been able to discourse at length about fine dining in Paris, Rome, London, Prague, etc. on the university’s tab.

  5. Polish Peter Says:

    Mice in training to be rats!

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