TVU: This university doesn't know grammar, but that's the least of its problems
"We believe that ICE agents have committed adultery with the real criminal and misled by the vicious wrong accusation by the two criminals to conduct such a 'Sham' act."
This is the response Dr Susan Su, president of Tri-Valley University, sent to email queries by The Indian Express on her institution finding itself at the centre of allegations of massive immigration fraud, with tens of Indian students caught in the middle.
If the barely comprehensible reply hardly inspires confidence that her university wasn't just a front to allow students looking to immigrate an easy access to the US, consider another startling point she makes in her e-mail. The director concedes the university offered 15 per cent of "each course fee bonus" to students who brought family members to join since it treated "students as partners".
According to her, the reason the university is in such a mess is none other than two of its Indian staff members.
The California-based Tri-Valley University, being probed by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), also admits it was not mandatory for students, including those on F1 visa (non-immigrant visa that does not allow full-time work), to attend classes on campus — this is likely to be construed a violation of visa rules.
This university doesn't know grammar, but that's the least of its problems "TVU is able to grow successfully and exponentially is mainly because TVU live TV broadcasting capability, allow students to attend class in live remotely. Many students call for admission first question asked is: "Do I have to be forced to come to the Pleasanton campus for class or not". And we answer them: "You are welcome to, but you do not need to. You will see everything in your computer as here projected on the wall," the TVU chief stated in her email response.
TVU, which was shut down last month, said it was not responsible for duping students, including 1,555 foreign students, mostly Indians.
Susan Su accused staff members Anji Reddy and Ram Krista Karra of asking students to make tuition payments in Karra's personal account in exchange for I-20 forms and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) approval.
Su claimed that Reddy worked in the administration office and was a student assistant while Karra was another student who also ran a consultancy in the region.
"TVU had fired these two individuals. After the firing, these two people spread viscous rumor among students. They continue to threaten TVU student. TVU file a police report. In the fear of a fate that they deserved, to be frozen bank account and departed from US, those two individuals continue their vicious attack effort and spread rumor, also went to SF ICE office to make same false, wrong statements about the University administration," stated the email titled "Defend material".
But the university also admitted it gave 15 percent of "each course fee bonus" to students who brought their family members to join the university as they treated their "students as partners".
Since its inception in March 2008 when it operated out of Su's home, student intake had increased to around 5,000. "Many housewife students project the class meeting in live in their home, and family member and friend are all watching and then all join together," the email said.
The university also admitted that its "growing students body only partially are international F1 students... Among 5000 TVU students, only 1555 are active international students, and only 140 students applied a VISA with TVU's I 20."
I-20 is a form issued by a US university to international students admitted to its programme, on the basis of which they apply for a student visa.
The TVU email said the university was considering a lawsuit against the ICE and SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) against the "sham" allegation.
"Within two weeks, with this investigation, and twisted news blow out of per potion, every single day average $300,000 of student claim refund... The Fed shall apologize for such a serious "Sham" mistake, repay for the damage done to the University and the founder Dr. Susan Su's name and reputation," the email stated.
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'Tagging hip, happening'
NEW DELHI: Juliet Wurr, Public Affairs Officer at the US Consulate in Hyderabad, on Tuesday called the tagging of Indian students in California "hip and happening". "Those anklets are used when you have somebody who might flee... The anklets are very hip and happening. Many of our movie stars caught in drunken driving or else choose the anklets than sitting in a prison," said Wurr. She added that the anklets were "hot and trendy", "I don't know why people are getting upset about this." Soon after her comments appeared on TV channels, Jawed Ashraf, Joint Secretary (Americas) in the External Affairs Ministry, called up US Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Lu and told him that the comments were "unacceptable". Wurr later expressed regret.
Indian Express