<p>College deans in movies (eg Old School, Animal House) are sometimes portrayed as evil manipulators. Who'd of thunk it could actually get that bad? Cecilia</a> Chang, disgraced St. John's University dean, dead in apparent suicide - Crimesider - CBS News</p>
<p>Just read about that. Pretty amazing story.</p>
<p>Sad…she sounds like she must have been desperate for the money or power.</p>
<p>Anyone else struck by the use of “Sayonara” to describe the mental state of someone whose surname was Chang?</p>
<p>Sad and bizarre story, in any case.</p>
<p>Consolation, yes, I found that “sayonara” inappropriate and offensive.</p>
<p>This is what the NY Times says about it:
"Judge Johnson, known for filling his sixth floor courtroom with levity, did not scale back when the news turned grim.
“Sayonara,” Judge Johnson said, adding that Dr. Chang had gotten everything off her chest in the previous day’s testimony. “We never know how an individual handles the pressure.” He called the turn of events a “Shakespearean tragedy.”
<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/07/nyregion/cecilia-chang-ex-dean-of-st-johns-found-dead.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/07/nyregion/cecilia-chang-ex-dean-of-st-johns-found-dead.html</a></p>
<p>What is offensive is the thought that such a twisted soul could hide her actions for so long in an academic setting. It is obvious that the protection of the ivory towers is still very active today. No control, no accountability, and the expectation of impunity. </p>
<p>How many looked the other way?</p>
<p>This ex-Dean’s been in the NYC local area news for several months. From prior reports, it seemed she enjoyed going to Casinos to gamble, misusing scholarships to get coerced labor at home and elsewhere(Casino), attempting to get an unmerited full scholly for her son to study at their law school, mistreated her scholarship students, allowed her son to do the same, and more. </p>
<p>She really makes Dean Wormer look like an angel in comparison. </p>
<p>Incidentally, this bit of news made me glad I was warned off by many Catholic elementary school teachers and neighbors with older kids from applying there. </p>
<p>Looks like I dodged a bullet…especially considering she headed an institute that oversaw one of my major specializations if I had pursued it there. Just thinking about that makes me shudder…</p>
<p>I don’t think anything was meant by “sayonara,” unless the judge thinks “all Asians are the same”–which I hope is not the case. Sayonara is a Japanese word and Chang is a common Chinese surname. </p>
<p>In any event, it is a sad and strange story.</p>
<p>[St</a>. Johns University dean… was prime suspect in 1990 execution-style slay of husband | NY Daily News](<a href=“Crime News - New York Daily News”>EXCLUSIVE: St. John’s University dean on trial for ripping off school was prime suspect in 1990 execution-style slay of husband)</p>
<p>“she enjoyed going to Casinos to gamble, misusing scholarships to get coerced labor at home and elsewhere(Casino), attempting to get an unmerited full scholly for her son to study at their law school, mistreated her scholarship students, allowed her son to do the same, and more.”</p>
<p>So you’re saying maybe the unfortunate use of “sayonara” ISN’T the main story here?</p>
<p>From the linked story in post #9:
“Unable to speak because of the tube running down his throat, Ruey Fung Tsai — known as “Johnson” — motioned for a piece of paper, said one of the sources.”</p>
<p>Looks like the judge–also known as “Johnson”–wasn’t the first person in this story to have ethnic vertigo.</p>
<p>Tenure makes you invincible.</p>
<p>Maybe not tenure, but raising millions upon millions of dollars for the university gave her a somewhat teflon finish. How did this all come to light?</p>
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<p>Well, yes, that was precisely my point.</p>
<p>And no, Oivoiv, it is hardly the main story. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>What a bizarre story… not sure what to think of this. Definitely a sad ending, though.</p>