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Saturday, October 16, 2004
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TWO YOUNG DIPLOMA MILL GRADUATES IN A HURRY
I "Hong Kong daily: Lawmaker holds suspect academic credentials HONG KONG (AP) - A pro-Beijing lawmaker who gained notoriety by aiming a crude one-fingered gesture at democracy supporters came under fire Friday when a newspaper reported that he had suspect academic credentials. The Standard newspaper charged that Philip Wong had attained two degrees from so-called "diploma mills'' in the United States, according to an investigation it carried out into his academic background. "Diploma mills'' offer degrees for low fees and require little if any academic work. Wong, who is also a delegate to the Chinese National People's Congress, told The Associated Press that the newspaper report was "wrong.'' Biographical data on Wong that appears on the Hong Kong Legislative Council's Web site lists academic credentials including a Ph.D in Engineering from California Coast University. The Santa Ana, California-based unaccredited school was recently named in a U.S. General Accounting Office report into "diploma mills.'' The General Accounting Office is the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress. Wong also lists a law degree from Southland University, which the Standard described as a defunct institution from Pasadena, California. The Standard said the quality of both degrees was "questionable.'' Wong called California Coast University a legitimate school. "My school was fully accredited when I was studying there. Otherwise why would I go and study there?'' Wong said. He said as far as he knew Southland University merged with another university a long time ago. "I'm not the spokesperson of these universities, so I can't comment for them,'' Wong said, before hanging up his mobile phone. Wong offended many people in Hong Kong last year when he was filmed making an obscene gesture at pro-democracy demonstrators. Most Hong Kong people favor full democracy but Beijing has forbidden it for the near term. - AP " II "Candidate lists two degrees from alleged diploma mills Lafayette: A retired cop who voluntered to act as town marshal here and is now seeking a city council seat, touts master's and Ph.D. degrees in his campaign filing from places officially listed as diploma mills by Oregon's Office of Degree Authorization. Steve Malone...listed on his filing forms a master's in adminstration of justice from Golden State University and a Ph.D. in public administration from the University of Honolulu. Both are owned by a man who operates them out of offices in downtown Honolulu with the help of a single employee.... Malone and his wife said they never intended to use the questionable credentials to gain a position in government. They said he listed them on candidacy forms 'for informational purposes only.' ... 'He has been very careful about not using his master's or Ph.D. degrees for political or monetary gain," said his wife Melody, speaking on his behalf, 'because he's always been aware that it was a nontraditional school.' ... 'University of Honolulu is licensed as a degree-granting institution of higher education recognized by the Accreditation Council for Higher Education,' its website boats. It goes on to note that accreditation has been 'approved by the Minister of Education of the Kingdom of Wallis and Fatuna Islands...' Wallis and Fatuna Islands are two French territories in the South Pacific. Neither is a kingdom and neither has a minister of education. ... [Malone] said he graduated simultaneously with both a master's and a Ph.D., from different schools. He insisted he earned the degrees in good faith. But, he said, 'Those are just peanuts and popcorn. That's not stuff I care about. It's only things I did.' " |