Another Black Eye for Penn

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sit for exams in 10th and early 11th grade, so before she would have been technically in the foster system. No PSAT, no SAT, no ACT, no National Merit Semifinalist or Finalist? But she was quick to get the reporter a copy of her transcript to show off inflated A's?

Inflated? She went to an elite private day school, ranked nationally. I thought those don’t do grade inflation and are supposedly eons better than public schools. What’s going on here? She applied pre-test-optional admissions.

yeah, costing $30,000 per year. So who paid for that? Including the year she "bounced around in foster care"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sit for exams in 10th and early 11th grade, so before she would have been technically in the foster system. No PSAT, no SAT, no ACT, no National Merit Semifinalist or Finalist? But she was quick to get the reporter a copy of her transcript to show off inflated A's?

She graduated summa cum laude from Penn- I doubt she had crappy SAT scores. But who cares? She clearly did very well academically at Penn!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1.) What is the writer's background; did she grow up wealthy, what's her alma mater? I ask because I want to know if she was duped or this was a hit piece from the get-go aimed at Penn. I guarantee the writer did not grow up poor because nobody who grew up genuinely poor and was or is genuinely a first-generation college student is gullible enough to believe this con artist. Like it is legitimately laughably that anyone would buy this crap.

2.) Why did the writer omit this smoking gun from her reporting? Do her editors know of this smoking gun? Why was a woman who claims to have zero relationship or support from mum and dad submitting this internally to Penn financial aid:

Additionally, I partially support my younger sister, who will be starting college soon. I will then have the additional strain of working to put her through school and ensure her basic living expenses are met. Because she also has special needs, additional resources such as medication, testing, learning aids, and more create further expenses throughout this process.” She wrote the same in her 2018-2019 PFAS form. Ms. Shaw told OSC that Mackenzie has not provided, and that there was no reason to believe it would become necessary to provide, “basic living expenses” or medical costs for Cat (who does have learning challenges). Asked about this, Mackenzie told OSC (and it was separately confirmed) that Mackenzie set up a 529 account for her sister to use towards higher education. OSC understands that the account has approximately $6,000 in it at this point. According to Mackenzie, the seed money for this account may have come from her biological father, although she does not quite remember.

I grew up legitimately poor and I am totally on Mackenzie’s side in this. You’re wrong.

+1

I grew up middle class (public school, including college, no prep school or anything remotely of that world) but went through an extended estrangement from my parents, and even if you believe Mackenzie lied or exaggerated to get into college (I think she was careful in what facts she revealed and which she omitted, which some might view as manipulative and others might view as smart) I can tell you the two entities I definitely believe are bad actors here: Mackenzie's mom (and her boyfriend) and Penn.

Sorry, but a loving an non-abusive mother does not laugh off sexual abuse. She does not appear at the hospital where her daughter is staying with a serious head injury seeming unconcerned and with excuses about how it happened. She doesn't contact her estranged her daughter's university to badmouth her (for no reason! what does Carey Morrison gain from this except spitefully discrediting her adult daughter?). There are also other enormous red flags regarding Mackenzie's mom, including the nasty divorce from Mackenzie's dad and her choice to have her boyfriend, who was accused of abuse by two prior girlfriends, live in her home with her minor daughters. Sorry, but this isn't someone who is just a loving mom betrayed by a manipulative daughter. Look at the situation. Does this describe loving, nurturing family homes with which you are familiar? Or does this sound like a selfish, abusive mother who is very accustomed to doing whatever she wants regardless of its negative impact on her children, and then using her status or charm to avoid repercussions?

And again, regardless of what you think of Mackenzie's stories, there is no way to read this story in a way that is favorable to Penn. When they thought Mackenzie grew up in poverty in foster homes, they were happy to exploit that to tout their credibility as a do-gooding university. And then when the real story turns out to be more complex, are they interested in that complexity (note here that ALL abuse and neglect stories are complex, whatever you think that is "supposed" to look like is not the experience of me or anyone I know)? Nope. They want their model victim, and if Mackenzie isn't it, they are done with her. They painted themselves into this corner. And now they want to deny her a masters degree she earned? Strip her of academic rewards she earned? All to save face, I guess. It's gross. And the fact that Mackenzie happened to be involved in that wrongful death suit against them? Sorry but it smells to high heaven.

I don't actually care what you think of Mackenzie. People are complicated and I don't know her and while aspects of her story resonate with me, I can't know what is in her heart. Maybe she is manipulative -- I know lots of people abused as kids who become pretty nasty people as adults because abuse/neglect is not a good way to develop good character.

But Mackenzie's mom? Penn? Sorry, NOPE. They are not innocent victims of some con artist. They are questionable AF. And notice they are the only parties in this whole story who have suffered no consequences whatsoever. It's interesting, isn't it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sit for exams in 10th and early 11th grade, so before she would have been technically in the foster system. No PSAT, no SAT, no ACT, no National Merit Semifinalist or Finalist? But she was quick to get the reporter a copy of her transcript to show off inflated A's?

Inflated? She went to an elite private day school, ranked nationally. I thought those don’t do grade inflation and are supposedly eons better than public schools. What’s going on here? She applied pre-test-optional admissions.

yeah, costing $30,000 per year. So who paid for that? Including the year she "bounced around in foster care"?

The school gave her a full scholarship for her last year (when she was in foster care and living with friends' families). Because they believed her. Since, you know, they knew her and had seen the injuries and multiple teachers and parents were concerned enough to reach out to authorities about it. Her mom didn't pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sit for exams in 10th and early 11th grade, so before she would have been technically in the foster system. No PSAT, no SAT, no ACT, no National Merit Semifinalist or Finalist? But she was quick to get the reporter a copy of her transcript to show off inflated A's?

She graduated summa cum laude from Penn- I doubt she had crappy SAT scores. But who cares? She clearly did very well academically at Penn!

She's obviously a smart and hardworking student who was planning to use her Ivy League education to (checks notes) do social work. If she was really trying to con them, what a weird and benevolent con! "Haha I'll lie to get into this university so that I can spend my life making almost no money and helping kids in foster care!" What a devious mastermind.

Seriously, the argument that Mackenzie was just pulling a fast one make no sense. Why work so hard in school? Why get genuinely involved in programs to help kids in foster care and others who have been exploited and abused? Why pursue a non-lucrative graduate degree in a helping field?

Also, she obviously had the high school grades (at an elite prep school) to get into a good college. If she just wanted a free ride, why not just play nice with her supposedly non-abusive mother, who would have paid her way, I'm sure?

[Anonymous]

Rich white teens with As and Bs and an average SAT/ACT score do not get into Ivy League colleges*. Not even close. Let alone for free.

As and Bs and an average SAT/ACT gets UMC teens from St Louis into the Honors College at University of Missouri.

*Unless you're Jared Kushner and your dad makes a $2.5 million pledge to Harvard: https://www.propublica.org/article/the-story-behind-jared-kushners-curious-acceptance-into-harvard

[Anonymous]

I obviously have no idea what happened here, but I am confused by a couple of reactions.

For the people so angry at Penn - my understanding is that they notified the Rhodes people of the information they were given (which seems like something they absolutely should have done), Rhodes conducted their own independent investigation, and reached the same conclusion. How is that on Penn? Why is everyone ignoring what the Rhodes Committee determined?

The articles seems pretty determined to ignore anything that contradicts Mackenzie's story. At the the end they briefly mention that when she was asked (at a hearing of some sort) why the medical records contradict what she wrote (about the bruising and blood and feeding tubes) and her response is something like that's just what she felt, the author just lets that go. I wanted a lot more information about that. It seemed pretty factual that "her truth" didn't match up with the medical documentation. But it is just glossed over in a short paragraph and dismissed. And some of the teacher comments were confusing - teachers are mandated reporters. But they found several willing to say they noticed a pattern of abuse, but only one person ever reported anything. Which was investigated and dismissed.

I don't know. I had an abusive mother that everyone else loved, so I want to believe her. But it also seems that when something Mackenzie said could be tested against other facts (hospital records, the stuff about supporting sister, etc), then Mackenzie's statements are shown to be less than accurate. So we're only left with the things she said that can't be verified one way or the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sit for exams in 10th and early 11th grade, so before she would have been technically in the foster system. No PSAT, no SAT, no ACT, no National Merit Semifinalist or Finalist? But she was quick to get the reporter a copy of her transcript to show off inflated A's?

She graduated summa cum laude from Penn- I doubt she had crappy SAT scores. But who cares? She clearly did very well academically at Penn!

When asked for her high school test scores and/or if she was a National Merit Semifinalist or Finalist, you deflect to inflated college grades in a soft major. Ivanka Trump also graduated from Penn with honors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well that’s a pack of lies. I predict a libel action against the New Yorker and its staff writer on this much the way UVA rd overdid against Rolling Stone when it ran its false case about rape at a frat house.

I see you’re with the camp that claims she attacked herself, smashed her own face, broke her own bones, and that her stepfather legit mistook her for her mother when he molested her.

Why do you believe that? She’s a master manipulator. The article is part of the plaintiff lawyers’ appeal to the public and to taint the jury. Or to force an early settlement. Most good lawyers don’t litigate in the press. And the New Yorker doesn’t go it’s own fact-checking-do the person saying gold standard is wrong. It wants to sell mags ones so will print what it thinks it can get away with. Private law firms do the fact checking. I used to do it

Wouldn't surprise me. This spirited defense of her on a DMV-based parenting forum also feels very inorganic. Which court is the suit in, DMV or perhaps they hope this is at the top of a Google search?

[Anonymous]

This is the mom's boyfriend:
https://stlsportspage.com/2022/01/17/henry-lovelace-owner-of-wild-horse-fitness-passes-away/

Interesting choice for a respected doctor. Anyhow, this is the man she trusted over her daughter. And called the police on in a separate event. This article says he was hard on his clients. He did train with Mackenzie. Do you all believe he was 100% appropriate with her? Does the mom claim the forcible touching did not happen? If so, I missed that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sit for exams in 10th and early 11th grade, so before she would have been technically in the foster system. No PSAT, no SAT, no ACT, no National Merit Semifinalist or Finalist? But she was quick to get the reporter a copy of her transcript to show off inflated A's?

Inflated? She went to an elite private day school, ranked nationally. I thought those don’t do grade inflation and are supposedly eons better than public schools. What’s going on here? She applied pre-test-optional admissions.

When asked for her test scores and/or if she was a National Merit Semifinalist or Finalist, the responder deflects to the supposed high esteem of her private high school to deflect and shut down the inquiry.

[Anonymous]

There is so much misinformation on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rich white teens with As and Bs and an average SAT/ACT score do not get into Ivy League colleges*. Not even close. Let alone for free.

As and Bs and an average SAT/ACT gets UMC teens from St Louis into the Honors College at University of Missouri.

*Unless you're Jared Kushner and your dad makes a $2.5 million pledge to Harvard: https://www.propublica.org/article/the-story-behind-jared-kushners-curious-acceptance-into-harvard

Ivies do not give merit scholarships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well that’s a pack of lies. I predict a libel action against the New Yorker and its staff writer on this much the way UVA rd overdid against Rolling Stone when it ran its false case about rape at a frat house.

I see you’re with the camp that claims she attacked herself, smashed her own face, broke her own bones, and that her stepfather legit mistook her for her mother when he molested her.

Why do you believe that? She’s a master manipulator. The article is part of the plaintiff lawyers’ appeal to the public and to taint the jury. Or to force an early settlement. Most good lawyers don’t litigate in the press. And the New Yorker doesn’t go it’s own fact-checking-do the person saying gold standard is wrong. It wants to sell mags ones so will print what it thinks it can get away with. Private law firms do the fact checking. I used to do it

Wouldn't surprise me. This spirited defense of her on a DMV-based parenting forum also feels very inorganic. Which court is the suit in, DMV or perhaps they hope this is at the top of a Google search?

I think it's because the MOMS here are freaking disgusted that a parent could hear that her large, intimidating, gun-owning boyfriend touched her daughter and only respond with "Flattered he thought that was me!" To a person from social services.

If that does not enrage you, then you are gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rich white teens with As and Bs and an average SAT/ACT score do not get into Ivy League colleges*. Not even close. Let alone for free.

As and Bs and an average SAT/ACT gets UMC teens from St Louis into the Honors College at University of Missouri.

*Unless you're Jared Kushner and your dad makes a $2.5 million pledge to Harvard: https://www.propublica.org/article/the-story-behind-jared-kushners-curious-acceptance-into-harvard

Not to belabor the point or support the Kushners but ProPublic is a left leaning publication and there are more holes in that story than I could drive a truck through. One item that jumped out at me is that the author claims that "90% of Hsarvard's class of 2003 graduated with honors". Well that is beyond false. Only 50% graduate with honors. Top 5% are summa, 15% magna, 30% cum laude. I was summat in college and cum laud at Harvard's law school so I've been through the honors process and the graduation. Also the author says he "had a hunch" and never did get confirmation from Harvard for his story. But let's agree it's true . . . that's what legacies are about. I knew I had to donate 7 figures to get my kids into Harvard. i can't afford it. Although one of them had the stats he didn't get in. We know from the Harvard lawsuit that 30% of the incoming class are legacies. That seems high to me but Harvard is a private institution and can do what it wants to get new buildings.