Old School Degree Mills

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by Bruce, Jan 8, 2017.

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  1. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Being snowed-in last night, I was just lazily surfing the web, and somehow got to the subject of communes. Of interest to us is a commune on Staten Island named "Ganas", which back in the 70's was embroiled in a fake degree scandal; the old newspaper articles were interesting to read, with some school names we remember from the degree mill section of Bears Guide.

    http://ganas.awardspace.us/School_Lack_Degrees.pdf

    http://ganas.awardspace.us/City_Look_PhD_Use.pdf

    http://ganas.awardspace.us/Self_Accreddited_School.pdf
     
  2. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member

  3. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Thanks for dusting off the time machine, Bruce. A few links I was unaware of. And one not mentioned: Gordon DaCosta, mentioned along with his Indiana Northern University, was also the founder of the notorious Accrediting Commission International/International Accrediting Commission.
     
  4. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    "Give me those Old School Degree Mills
    Give me those Old School Degree Mills
    Give me those Old School Degree Mills
    They're good enough for me.

    They were good for Gord DaCosta
    They were good for Gord DaCosta
    They were good for Gord DaCosta
    They're good enough for me.

    Give me those Old School Degree Mills
    Give me those Old School Degree Mills
    Give me those Old School Degree Mills
    They're good enough for me.

    They were good for Jim McPherson
    An incarcerated person,
    They were good for Jim McPherson
    They're good enough for me.

    Give me those Old School Degree Mills
    Give me those Old School Degree Mills
    Give me those Old School Degree Mills
    They're good enough for me.

    They were good for Ronald Pellar
    That Dr. Dante feller,
    They were good for Ronald Pellar
    They're good enough for me.

    Give me those Old School Degree Mills
    Give me those Old School Degree Mills
    Give me those Old School Degree Mills
    They're good enough for me.

    They were good for Dixie Randock
    They were good for Dixie Randock
    They were good for Dixie Randock
    They're good enough for me.

    And so on...


    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 12, 2017
  5. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    I certainly hope we're not talking about the Jim McPherson who has a Johns Hopkins PhD and a Princeton professorship.
     
  6. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    No, Ted. We're not talking about him at all. Perish the thought! :shock:

    We're talking about the late Thomas James Kirk, a.k.a McPherson who was the wizard behind the screen at "Bienville University," "LaSalle University" (bogus one in Mandeville LA) and " University of San Gabriel Valley." While he was serving five years for degree-mill related charges, his wife opened "Edison University," later re-named "Acton University" in Hawaii. Here's a page on him:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Kirk_diploma_mills

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 13, 2017
  7. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Johann: "We're talking about the late Thomas James Kirk, a.k.a McPherson..."

    John: Is he well and truly "late", Johann? I was not aware of that. Could you direct me to an article or obit or other reference? Thanks. -John
     
  8. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I'll do my best, John. I remember posting something about this topic about 5 years ago, can't be sure whether it was here or another degree-forum. I was surfing YouTube on a completely different topic (odd music, perhaps) and came across a couple of rather strange broadcasts by a man - I think he lived in Louisiana - who mentioned that Kirk/McPherson was his deceased father. I'll search some and get back to you.

    J.
     
  9. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    @ Dr. John Bear:

    From (my side of) our conversation on another forum in 2013:

    "I'm not positive, Dr. Bear, but I think Kirk aka McPherson may have died in 2008. At least, a person reputed (by some) to be Kirk's son said his father had recently died, in a 2008 YouTube video. I apologize to Mr. Kirk if I am exaggerating rumours of his demise."

    Mr. Kirk never complained - but that doesn't prove anything. Unfortunately, I never linked to that video. I'm trying to find it now. Stay tuned.

    J.
     
  10. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member


    "Thomas James Kirk II (July 1, 1946 - January 3, 2008) was the father of TJ and Scotty. He passed away in January of 2008 because of failure of the heart due to clogged arteries..."

    "During episode 166, Brett Keane mentioned TJ's dad was in federal prison for 5 years after setting up a diploma mill."

    Thomas James Kirk - Drunken Peasants Wiki


    And if you can't trust Drunken Peasants Wiki then what can you trust, eh?
     
  11. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Yep - that's our man. Good sleuthing. I just found that site a couple of minutes ago, signed on to link it and found you'd beaten me to it, Decimon. Nice going.

    J.
     
  12. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    I found the info originally on a video by TJ Kirk (son). He's also known as the "Amazing Atheist" and I believe he has authored a book with that title. Dunno which of many, many TJ Kirk videos it was, that mentioned his father and his death. You can see him and a list of his videos here; don't take this as a recommendation, though.

    https://www.youtube.com/user/TJPlaysItAll

    J.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 26, 2017
  13. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member


    How does it feel being it? ;-)
     
  14. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Thank you, gentlemen. Glad to have that information. And if TJ Kirk isn't the most annoying and tedious person to come down the pike this century, he certainly makes my short list.

    Surprised to learn that 'dad' was still in his 20s the first time I met him, at his Southland University in Pasadena. I would have guessed fifty for sure, at that time.
     
  15. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Oh yes, indeed! He's all of that! That's exactly why I said "don't take this as a recommendation." :smile:

    J.
     
  16. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

    Which is still operating as a "non-governmental accrediting agency," accrediting mainly two-bit religious schools. The president of this foul feathered fiend is one Rev. Dr. John Scheel. ACCREDITNOW.COM


    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 2, 2017
  17. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    I hadn't looked at their website for a while. They have photos of about 50 of their accreditees, none identified (although some have readable signs) . . . and indeed, they still do not make public the names of schools they accredit.

    It's been a while since my article on ACI (and the Three Stooges) has been mentioned here, so I take the liberty of providing the website: Accrediting Commission International
     
  18. Johann

    Johann Well-Known Member

    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 2, 2017
  19. TomE

    TomE New Member

    I'm glad I stumbled into this thread. So a degree-mill scammer is the dad and one of the most annoying Youtube "personalities" is the son?

    [​IMG]

    I guess it begs the question on which of the two "professions" is more credible?
     
  20. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    It raises the question, but yes.
     

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