National conference on degree mills canceled

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by John Bear, Oct 2, 2001.

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  1. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    The sad and annoying news arrived this morning. Canceled, they said, not postponed. Travel problems cited, but I can't help but wonder if frigid pedal extremities among some of the invitees may have been a factor. Anyway, we're on our own, folks, voice-crying-in-the-wilderness-wise.

    But U.S. News, which has shown more interest in publicizing phonies than most media, is still planning what sounds like a major diploma mill story in the magazine next week or the week after.

    John Bear
     
  2. Nosborne

    Nosborne New Member

    Dr. Bear, you are probably right. Too bad; when I was representing public entities, I used to tell officials that anyone can be sued for anything but the plaintiff doesn't always win. Just as a guess, I'd bet that no one has ever successfully sued you for libel. Truth, after all, is still the best defense.
    Nosborne
     
  3. Truth is the best defense, but it doesn't pay court costs.
     
  4. Byran Lee

    Byran Lee member

    John, was Dr. John Scheel, president of the Accrediting Commission International, invited to the conference as well?

    Regards,
    Byran
     
  5. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Nosborne says, Just as a guess, I'd bet that no one has ever successfully sued you for libel.

    True. As I've written here, the only one of my eight suits where there could have been a problem was when I confused the two Andrew Jackson Universities then operating in Louisiana, and called the wrong one a diploma mill. But owner Jean-Maximillien De La Croix de Lafayette was very reasonable, and dropped his suit when I did a public retraction/correction. Even invited me to lunch at his mansion in Washington.

    Nosborne writes, Truth, after all, is still the best defense.

    I would hope so. But I thought it was a combination of truth and relevance. The example I was given was that even if it was public record that the proprietor of a non-wonderful school had been a prostitute twenty years ago, I would be on thin ice if I reported that fact in writing about her school.

    Note: neither of those Andrew Jacksons has any connection with the current DETC-accredited one.

    Note: I am not aware of any proprietor of any school who was a prostitute 20 years ago.
     

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