From Chicago Tribune
I was shocked to read that Stanford University had fired head varsity sailing coach John Vandemoer in the wake of a federal investigation into shady college admissions practices nationwide. Authorities allege that Vandemoer accepted more than $600,000 in donations to the sailing program in exchange for agreeing to falsely designate two Stanford applicants as elite sailors he was recruiting for his team.
Ahoy! Stanford has a varsity sailing team?
Indeed it does. So do 16 other schools.
Why? That’s a big question that looms over this entire, mortifying scandal that has resulted in charges against at least nine coaches and 33 parents accused of using various foul means to secure spots for students in elite universities.
Nothing against the physically and mentally demanding sport of sailing or those youths who have demonstrated significant aptitude for it. But why does Stanford sponsor two sailing teams, one for men and one for women?
Why does the school offer special preference in admissions to those who know how to sail? Why does it pay a coach and assistant coach to oversee their training and send the team around the country to compete?”