Trump University: Educational institution or profit scheme?

Fabienne Fleurantin/Staff Writer

 

You know what Donald Trump and a bank have in common?

Money. Lots and lots of money.

Unfortunately, in this instance, the way Trump obtained that money was beyond reprehensible. With all the hype that is Donald Trump, more fuel has been added to the fire with this new scandal during the 2016 presidential election.

Trump had a university. Surprising, I know.

But, what a wonderful thing! Creating an environment where anyone could learn and prosper in their respective field of their choice. Wrong.

It wasn’t really a school. According to The New Yorker, it was a company that “purported to be selling Trump’s secret insights into how to make money in real estate.” What’s even worse is that Trump University was a profit scam that preyed on those who were uneducated and not very wealthy.

It started in 2005, originally offering online classes, but things changed. Classes moved on campus, providing tools where people “would learn Trump’s personal techniques and strategies for investing, at a cost of about fifteen hundred dollars,” as stated in The New Yorker.

These “classes” were taught in the form of seminars and the students didn’t really learn anything. Trump was supposed to be in charge of choosing instructors and supplying the material students would be taught, but he didn’t even contribute to that. Instead, the university’s curriculum was created “by a third-party company that creates and develops materials for an array of motivational speakers and seminar and timeshare rental companies,” as mentioned on The New Yorker.

There’s more.

Not only did these instructors persuade students to pay for these three-day seminars, they also told them to buy mentorship programs that cost almost $35,000. They were relentless in their pursuit of money, “encouraging customers to max out their credit cards and playing psychological tricks on them…” cited The New Yorker.

There is now a federal lawsuit being filed against Trump University.

Adding to his list of transgressions, Trump has even hurled insults at the judge who has taken his case, Gonzalo Curiel, “arguing that Curiel’s Latino heritage means that he can’t judge fairly,” as mentioned on Vox.com.

Remind me again: what does culture have to do with you taking other people’s hard-earned money?

Donald Trump’s mouth has gotten him to places I never thought possible, slinging his hateful rhetoric and racial slurs in every direction possible. Now, his greed has taken him to new heights.

I can hear it now. The theme song of “The Apprentice” blaring in the background while a well-known business man walks to its infectious rhythm. “Money, money, money,” the O’Jays would sing. Well, that’s what he was after. Now, all of the power and profit he thought he possessed is being threatened.

However, I don’t think this scandal will threaten his persona in the eyes of young voters and the like. Donald Trump’s popularity and momentum were built on scandal, and with this new buzz boiling, it’s just giving him more free press and the possibility to win the election.
If we, as voters, paid more attention, we would realize that fear will not prevail, as the reigning message he promotes. That’s not what our country was founded on and if he gets elected, that’s not how we want to be viewed.

 

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The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of FIU Student Media Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

 

Image retrieved from Flickr