Student admits role in NY SAT fraud case

IU sophomore Adam Justin is facing accusations of fraudulent standardized test taking. He now faces possible legal woes and disciplinary action from the University.

Justin, however, is not the sole alleged conspirator. He is among a group of at least 15 individuals who have been connected to the scandal that broke in September.

On Nov. 22. Justin admitted to investigators in Nassau County, N.Y., his involvement but left out his specific role.

Chris Munzing, Nassau County District Attorney’s deputy communications director, told State Impact that Justin accepted a sum of $500 to take several standardized tests.

However, Justin’s lawyer, Arnold Kriss, said Justin has made no such confession of actually taking the tests.

“Notwithstanding the frenzy regarding this matter, the presumption of innocence still governs,” Kriss said. “This matter will be resolved in the appropriate forum in due time.”

Since 1926, standardized test results have served as a means for determining a student’s admission status.

The security procedures for the widely known standardized test, the SAT, have fallen under scrutiny in the last month or so as the scandal unfolded.

The ring was first exposed when Great Neck (N.Y.) High School student Samuel Eshagahoff, now a student at Emory University in Atlanta, was arrested for fraud and criminal impersonation.

The high school’s principal, Bernard Kaplan, spoke to Gothamist, a daily blog, about what he believes to be a flawed system.

“Make up a school, put any name you like and your picture on the card, sign that name and pick a mascot for good luck. In fact, if you want to cover yourself, you don’t even have to go to the site you requested,” Kaplan told Gothamist on Oct. 25. “You can go as a walk-in to any site that you desire using that made-up ID.”

Kaplan also went on to say how he believes that students should be required to take the exams at their own schools, and that if they want to go elsewhere, their reasons must be approved, according to Gothamist.

For students already enrolled at IU involved in incidents like Justin’s, the University takes several things into consideration before deciding its response.

“In general, if a student were accused of an offense off-campus that we feel impacts the University community, then we can do an investigation and determine if the actions constitute a violation of the Code of Student Conduct,” Dean of Students Harold “Pete” Goldsmith said.

He said after that initial assessment, students involved in off-campus incidents could see University-given repercussions.

“If we think that they do, then the student is charged and subject to the procedures and potential sanctions outlined in the Procedures for the Bloomington Campus,” Goldsmith said.