Aristotle University: Unaccredited, not CA approved, still part of F-1 visa system

A few more details:

- a spokesman with the California Department of Consumer Affairs "confirmed that the institution does not have approval from the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education to operate – and said that operating without approval can be penalized by a $50,000 fine."

- The school is now under investigation by the Dept. of Homeland Security: "Special agents with the agency want to know how Aristotle University was authorized to issue student visas, which they said is a stringent process."

- One teacher has claimed that she was not paid for her work at the school

- Students have claimed that "Xanthi Gionis, the school’s dean and cofounder, threatens to take away their visas and have them deported if they are late on tuition payments."

- Xanthi Gionis has never actually held a political position, but has been trying to do so. She was a Republican candidate for Congress (CA 51st district) in 2012, but was eliminated in the primary. She is currently the Republican candidate for State Senate (40th district) for the June 2013 special election. She seems to be favored by the Tea Party.

- Ms. Gionis also claims to have "received state-wide recognition in 1983 when she received her Juris Doctor (JD) Degree, as the youngest law school graduate in California at the age of 20." However, it is not clear whether she is licensed to practice law, as there is no one with that name in the California Bar's Attorney Search database.

 

It gets weirder.

Apparently another cofounder of the school is Dr. Thomas Gionis, who is brother to Xanthi.
It has been claimed that Thomas Gionis "is the youngest person in the United States to have obtained an MD degree after starting medical school at 17".

In the 1980s, Thomas Gionis was apparently married to Aissa Wayne, daughter of actor John Wayne. In 2001, he was sentenced to serve five years in prison for hiring two thugs who assaulted his estranged wife and her boyfriend.

 

Aristotle said, "The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet". Perhaps Aristotle University is still in the rootage phase.