Slightly OT: Honorary doctorates in Compton, CA

Today's LA Times features a story about Yuin University, a BPPVE-approved school in Compton, which has apparently granted several honorary doctorates to local polticial bigwigs. See http://www.latimes.com/news/state/20010517/t000041454.html .

 

He! He! He!

Can you imagine these guys running around during the political chaos of an election?

One says "I gotta Ph.D."
Another candidate replies, "Me too."
The third says, "Don't forget about mine."

Whatever you do, just don't let these honorary doctors count the ballots!!!!

 

I was struck by the following remarks by Yuin founder Henry Yu, concerning the school's continuing dispute with the acupuncture regulators.

 

It is very rare nowadays to give the Ph.D. as an honorary degree. Indeed I report in Bears' Guide (and now will have to modify that) that the academic world abandoned the honorary Ph.D. in the late 1930s after Gonzaga gave one to Bing Crosby, whose radio show compatriots made great fun of him as Dr. Bing that week.

For many years, Yuin was the last school in my data base, but now there is Zimbabwe Open U.

 

According to the BPPVE webpage, Yuin University is not approved to award honorary degrees.

While some of the degrees may have been issued before the effective date of California Education Code 94900, the Times article states at least one was issued last year.

As such, the degree may not only be worthless but also illegal.