One has to wonder why degree mill operators do it. Here's an intriguing site about Greenwich University 'Chancellor' John Walsh of Brannagh's involvement in trying to get a pretender declared Czar of Russia. Among other things, Walsh seems to be calling himself "The Duke de Branagh and de Ronceray" and writing letters from "The Regency of His Imperial Royal Highness Prince Alexis II" from a post office box on Norfolk Island. Could a 'discovery' of Atlantis off the Norfolk coast be next for his CV?
This looks like it http://www.chivalricorders.org/orders/self-styled/selfsty2.htm It is amazing how many people love this sort of stuff.
Ooops! You're right. In my haste I forgot to copy the link. It is: http://www.chivalricorders.org/orders/self-styled/selfsty2.htm Sorry about that!
The web page seems to describe events from 1996. I agree that it's surprising how many people enjoy these fantasies. As long as it's just a hobby it's fine. It becomes a concern when people pretend to have some sort of authority by virtue of a bought (or fabricated) title. People's motives in assuming fake titles are probably similar to people's motives in using fake degrees. Though perhaps not. Someone calling himself the "Duke de Branagh and de Ronceray" truly conveys the impression that he's an imbecile. My guess is that Walsh simply doesn't care what anyone thinks of him. He's having fun, and that's all that he cares about. So Steve Levicoff and John Walsh probably have a lot in common!
While I tend to agree, I have to say that I find many mill operators to be legends in their own minds. It might make an interesting study, to somehow test if there is a correlation between degree-mill operators and some heightened sense of self importance. However, it is an interesting story, none the less. If the subject himself is serious, at least there is entertainment value for the rest of us.
You think the "chivalric" stuff is wild? Take a look at what gets generated by private individuals who get themselves "ordained" metropolitan of this or catholicos of that or archbishop of the other--there are scads of these people who get their kicks dressing up in ecclesiastical regalia and bestowing grandiose titles on each other. Very odd indeed.
I always wondered why/how he referred to himself as "Walsh of Brannagh" (sic?). This certainly doesn't lend much credibility, in my eyes, to Greenwich. Bruce
Delusions of Grandeur 101 Texts: "How to Begin a Degree Granting Institution from Scratch" "Beating the Academic Legal System" "Accreditation Double Talk and Thesaurus" "Visitors Guide to Malawi."
Re: Re: Put up your DUke- Degree-mill royalty? I have heard to story from someone in Chambers unrelated to Greenwich or the 'elites' who preside and attend here. It is said that he does truly believe that he has a link that can be proven/established with the ancient Russian Royal family or similar. He also has some interesting email addresses on NI. I also do believe that I had read something somewhere at some time written by John Bear along these lines. We can say what we like about him, he has BALLS - and despite what many may say or wish or think, it isn't over yet. He got an Act of Parliament, be it a 2 page Act c.f. with the norm of 150-170 pages out here, and someone slipped up or OK'd the process for whatever reason. You can't just take that 'license' away from some one without some risk of compensation if not restitution. And of course in the midddle of all of this, we get the publicity of non-GAAP degrees being happily accepted at Australian universities ... Walsh of Brannagh, Lord of Whatever, Prince of Whereever, purchased, inherited or otherwise acquired, will have more to say yet ...
The vast majority of conventionally recognized colleges and universities have independent corporate identities that far transcend any single person. Harvard is much more than its president. But when you stoop down to the sort of tiny unconventional schools so often discussed on Degreeinfo, you find that schools have *owners* and that university decisions are heavily influenced by the whims of individuals. I'm sure that the fact that His Grace, the Duke of Brainy owns a home on Norfolk Island was not unrelated to Greenwich University's move to that island. The danger seems to be that when ego and hubris become overinflated, it becomes more and more difficult for the owner to distinguish between what is in his own personal interest and what is in the best interest of the institution he heads.
My recollection is that John Walsh's genealogical research satisfied him that his Irish family was entitled to an "of" (which is not uncommon in the UK, although little used now), associated with the name "Breathneath" (or something close to that), which is pronounced (so it may as well be spelled) 'Branagh." His story was that he presented his aged father with the title, as a gift . . . and, since it was a hereditary one, assumed it himself. John Bear, whose Irish Wheaten terrier is named "Luiseagh" (which is pronounced "Lucy").
Interesting You don't know about the Russian prince/Royal Family bit? I'll go one up on your terrier My family name is 'de Freyne' which is akward for an irishman to say when pissed, so it became 'French' and as 'French' is listed as one of the 12 Tribes of Galway. Now wait - I am not finished yet ... I am an Accountant, and have any of you seen the film 'Shawshank [Shoreshank?] Redemption'? The crooked accountant there was a de Freyne, but christened 'Andrew' from memory - definitely not Peter - that i am sure. Going tback to Bill's comments - yes and fair enough, but back in history we do have people who have very effectively put their imprint in to a College - some of the religious people come to mind, plus Pittman, Stotts [Australia 1874] and others. I am still not putting money any way on the GU/Walsh saga and outcome, and have a failing for championing the underdog ...
Re: Interesting Actually I have seen the movie three times. The accountant, "Andy," is not crooked, but is in prison on trumped up charges. The warden, however, is crooked--getting rich off of the less fortunate. Reminds me a lot of a degree mill operation.
Re: Re: Interesting Andy is an accountant [with an Irish name] and is not crooked? You can't have it both ways - an uncrooked accountant, and an uncroocked accountant in jail? And also, as you haven't worked with prisoners yet, they all are in prison on trumped up charges