<p>I stumbled upon this case today while looking through a thread in the main forum about people who have gotten their admissions rescinded from Harvard. Anyways, I don't remember this particular case, I think I was probably far too young at the time, but it involves a girl from South Carolina who murdered her mother with a lead candlestick and was subsequently convicted and served time in prison. When Harvard was tipped off about her conviction, her admission was shortly rescinded thereafter. The primary motivator however behind revoking her admissions was not her crime, but rather the fact that she attempted to hide it from the Harvard adcoms but not checking the box notarizing that she had ever been convicted of a crime in the past. She then opted to attend Tufts in the fall, and as far as I know graduated as a part of the class of 1999. </p>
<p>Although many were willing to forgive and forget any past transgressions, I'm not sure I would be as accomodating. The fact that she lied on her Harvard app is a testament to her character (...or lack of) and perhaps indicative that her moral fiber has changed very little since her mother's murder. Others argued that since she served her punishment, and that now she should be considered in good standing with society. Tufts was quoted as saying:</p>
<p>
[quote]
"Having paid her debts to society, she should not be denied
the opportunity of pursuing a college degree," said Tufts
spokeswoman Rosemarie Van Camp. "Any other decision would
have been antithetical to our fundamental values and beliefs."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It was obvious from the Harvard debacle however that she was still not able to accept responsibility for her grisly crime (including a particularly sinister cover-up afterwards with her then boyfriend). Anyone else have thoughts on this? I thought it was kind interesting. Have current students ever heard about her? </p>
<p>He's trying to share an interesting fact and story with us... If you have nothing relevant to say, then don't post.</p>
<p>Anyways, that girl should not be denied an education simply because she made a judgement error years ago. However, the fact that she continuously lied means that she had not really changed since committing that murder. Did she reveal to Tufts her arrest on her application?</p>
<p>Yea, I'm not trying to bash Tufts or anything, I just thought it was interesting how students back then ended up on different sides of the issue, and what people's thoughts about it today were. As far as the Tufts application, that was part of Tuft's logic behind letting her matriculate I suppose, is that Tufts doesn't ask if their applicants have criminal backgrounds, so technically she didn't lie on her Tufts app.</p>
<p>oh my god, I can't believe Tufts accepted her after finding out she lied on her Harvard app. </p>
<p>I think it shows that she didn't change much since oh, lying to the police about what happened, making the murder look like a suicide, blaming her "beloved" boyfriend, etc, etc. It's like... she was still trying to get away with what she'd done without any consequences. </p>
<p>Ugh. Ugh. I know it doesn't matter anymore, but wow. People are crazy.</p>
<p>This puts Blair Hornstine to shame, but I can't help but wonder where Ms. Grant ended up. Everyone of course has skeletons in the closet, but wow, that's quite a skeleton. Regardless, I think people deserve second chances in redemption.</p>
<p>I think it was fair when Harvard rescinded the admission offer but it would have been unfair if Tufts had not admitted her. She might not have lied to Tufts</p>
<p>this happened 10 years ago, when most posters on this board were still in elementary school. I must say though that I'm a little uncomfortable with the fact that Tufts admitted her.</p>
<p>On the other hand, hate to say it but if her mother was an alcoholic then it's more likely that she was abusive towards her daughter, which may have caused her daughter to kill her. Ever hear of suicide by cop? This sounds like it could be the same type of thing. If you drive someone to the edge there's no telling how they'll react.</p>
<p>I would hardly call bludgeoning your mother to death a "judgement error." That's really creepy, good thing she's gone and graduated. And ditto what wrathofachilles said, there may have been some kind of an abuse factor.</p>