College Admissions, Rigged for the Rich

Home , Castaway, Colton Underwood, Huckabee, Karlie Kloss, Kept, Lori Loughlin

By Joel Rubin, Hannah Fry, Richard Winton and MatthewOrmseth

When it came to getting their daughtersintocollege, actress Lori Loughlinand fashion designer J. Mossimo Giannulli were taking no chances. The wealthy,glamorous couple were determined their girls would attend USC, ahighly competitive school that offers seats only CJ Gunther EPA/Shutterstock to afractionofthe thou- WILLIAM SINGER sands of students who apply pleaded guiltyTuesdayto eachyear. racketeering and other So they turned to William charges in the scheme. Singer and the “side door” the NewportBeach busi- nessman said he had built intoUSC and otherhighly The big sought afteruniversities. Half amillion dollars later — Allen J. Schaben Los Angeles Times $400,000ofitsent to Singer FOR MILLIONS OF CALIFORNIANS who live near thecoast, the threatofrising sea levels and storms is and $100,000 to an adminis- business very real. Last year,winter stormseroded Capistrano Beach in Dana Point, causing aboardwalk to collapse. trator in USC’s vaunted ath- leticprogram —the girls were enrolled at the school. of getting Despitehaving nevercom- peted in crew,both had been ‘Massive’damagemay givencoveted slots reserved NEWSOM for rowers who were ex- accepted pected to join the school’s team. “This is wonderful news!” Experts call for TO HALT be the norm by 2100 Loughlin emailed Singer af- terreceiving word that a reforms to levelthe spotfor her second daughter playing field in a DEATH had been secured. She add- thriving industrythat Rising seas and routine storms couldbemore ed ahigh-five emoji. According to asweeping favorsthe well-off. destructive than wildfires and earthquakes criminal investigation into PENALTY fraudulent collegeadmis- By Teresa Watanabe sions unveiled Tuesday, and AndrewKhouri Loughlin and Giannulli are Governor will block By RosannaXia one of at least dozens of fam- Coastal flood risks at the ports ilies who paid hugesums to Students and parents executions by setting Scientists found that asevere storm on top of 1meter of In the most extensive takeadvantage of Singer’s have long suspected that amoratorium, an act sea level rise could cause almost as much damage as study to dateonsea levelrise audacious schemetogain money and connections help 2meters of sea level rise with no storm. in California, researchers access to exclusiveschools win access to top-tier col- some critics decryas say damagebythe end of the through bribesand lies. leges. an ‘abuseofpower.’ Flood projection: No sea level rise century could be far more [See Scheme, A8] But the federal indict- devastating than the worst ments unsealed Tuesday al- By Phil Willon earthquakes and wildfires in leging amassivenationwide Harbor statehistory. MORE COVERAGE scam by wealthy parents — City Wilmington Long Ateam of U.S. Geological including corporatetitans SACRAMENTO —Gov. Beach Survey scientistsconcluded Asnapshot of and Hollywood actresses — Gavin Newsom willsignan thatevenamodestamount greed, inequality to gettheir children into executiveorder on Wednes- of sea levelrise —often dis- prestigious universities day to impose amoratorium missed as acreeping, slow- Parentsand kids focused floored eventhe most jaded on the death penaltyinCali- Port of moving disaster —could onlyonexclusive schools observers of higher educa- fornia, vowing that no pris- Long Beach overwhelm communities are wasting time, money tion. oner in the statewill be ex- when astorm hits at the and energy, columnist And it reinforced what San SteveLopez says. A8 ecuted whileheisinoffice Pedro Port of sametime. many sayisadrastic imbal- because of abelief that capi- Los Angeles The studycombines sea ance between the uber-rich tal punishment is discrimi- levelrise and storms for the Bribing your way and everyone elseinthe natory, unjust and “incon- 1MILE first time, as well as wave ac- into college hyper-competitivecollege sistent with our bedrock val- tion, clifferosion, beachloss admissions game. ues.” and other coastal threats The admissions process “This is disgusting,” said The order willprevent across California.These fac- at eliteschools was scan- Eloy Ortiz Oakley,chancel- the statefromputting pris- Floodprojection: 2-meter sea level rise tors have been studied ex- dalous long before we lor of the California Commu- onerstodeathbygranting tensively but rarely together learned about celebrity nityCollegesand aUni- temporaryreprievestoall in the same model. bribes. EDITORIAL, A10 versityofCalifornia regent 737condemned inmates on The results aresobering. whohas long fought for California’sdeath row, the Potential More than half amillion Cali- wider access to higheredu- flooding Big corruption largest in the nation.Itwill fornians and $150 billionin problem at USC cation. “It reinforces the no- immediately close the exe- property areatriskofflood- tion that …ifyou come from cutionchamber at San ingalong the coast by 2100 — Indictmentsofcoaches wealthyou have amuch Quentin StatePrison and equivalent to 6% of the and athletic official show greater chance of accept- scuttle the state’sefforts to state’sGDP,the study the depths of the school’s ance thanifyou’rejust anor- devise aconstitutional found, and on parwithHur- decline, Dylan Hernan- mal working-classAmeri- method for lethal injection. ricane Katrina and some of dez writes. SPORTS, D1 can.” No inmatewill be released the world’scostliest disas- Susan Paterno, aChap- and no sentence or convic- ters. The number of people Ahit to the ‘nice man Universityprofessor tionwill be altered, the order exposed is three times great- celebrity’ facade who is writing abook on says. er than previousmodels that college admissions, said Newsom joins governors consideredonlysea level FelicityHuffman always the arena has become a in Oregon, Colorado and rise. seemed likeone of Holly- $100-billion business that is Pennsylvania whohaveim- Flood projection: 1-meter rise and a100-year storm And at atime when wood’s most grounded reshaping American cul- posed moratoriums on ex- marshes aredrowning, cliffs women. Then scandal ture,exacerbating income ecutions in those states, all eroding, beaches disappear- struck. CALENDAR, E1 [See Admissions, A9] using executivepowers. ing and severe stormslikely The action runs counter to become morefrequent, to the expressed will of Cali- Potential scientists say even asmall fornia voters, who over the flooding shift in sea levelrise could last six years rejected two launchanew rangeofex- statewide ballotmeasures tremes that Californians U.S. virtuallyalone in to repeal the death penalty would have to confront every and favoredfast-tracking year. the appeals process. “It’s notjust some nui- supporting Boeing jet “Our death penaltysys- sance that’s going to popits temhas been —byany mea- headuponce in awhile,”said sure—afailure,” Newsom Patrick Barnard, research plane in Indonesia lessthan saysinprepared remarks he director of the USGS Cli- FAAstandsbehind six months before. is expected to deliver at a mateImpacts and Coastal 737Max evenasmore ActingFAA Administra- Capitol news conference Sources: U.S. Geological Survey, Google Earth Processes Team and lead torDanielElwell said the [See Death penalty, A9] [See Flooding, A12] agency’s reviewsofar of “all Ellis Simani LosAngeles Times nations ground it. available data and aggre- By Samantha Masunaga gate safety performance from operators and pilots of the Boeing 737Max” shows Warning signs U.S. removes The FederalAviation Ad- “nosystemicperformance in LACMA shift ministration doubled down issues and provides no basis itsdiplomats on its support for the safety to order grounding the air- Collapsing twobig of Boeing Co.’s737 Maxair- craft.” museum departments in Venezuela craftTuesday,evenasmuch “Nor have other civil avia- into one is bizarre, writes OpponentsofVenezue- of the world movedto tionauthorities provided art critic Christopher ground the planes. datatousthatwould war- Knight. CALENDAR, E1 lan President Nicolas Maduro demonstrate On Tuesday,European rantaction,” he said in the Weather in Caracas as acrippling and Indian aviation regula- statement, adding that if Clear and breezy. powerblackout contin- tors joined aslewofothers any issues affecting the L.A. Basin: 68/48. B6 ues. The U.S. Embassy worldwide in suspending “continued airworthiness of exit appearstosignal flights of 737Max jetliners the aircraftare identified,” growing tensions and afterSunday’s deadly crash the agency will take“imme- tougher American of an Ethiopian Airlines diateand appropriate ac- actions to unseat plane, whichhad eeriesimi- tion.” Late Monday,aero- larities to afatal accident in- space giant Boeing said it CristianHernandez AFP/Getty Images Maduro. WORLD, A3 volving the same model [See 737Max, A4] A8 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13 ,2019 LATIMES.COM

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS SCANDAL Wealthy parents cheated admissions

[Scheme, from A1] “He didn’t have inside in- Federal investigators formation about the an- said they have charged 50 swers, he was just smart people in the case, including enough to get a near-perfect the USC administrator who score on demand or to cali- helped Loughlin’s kids, and brate the score,” Lelling said accomplices Singer alleg- of Riddell. edly paid to rig college ad- Huffman, who allegedly mission test scores — as well told Singer she was inter- as coaches at USC, UCLA, ested in hiring him again for Stanford and Yale. her younger daughter but ul- The charges stunned the timately decided against it, upper echelons of American made a brief court appear- academia, heightening de- ance Tuesday afternoon. As bate about the advantages Macy watched from the the ultra-rich enjoy in acces- gallery, she told a federal sing the country’s best col- magistrate she understood leges amid intense competi- the charges against her and tion in which merit alone is was released on bond. not enough to assure admis- For larger fees, parents sion, even for students with could avail themselves of the perfect grade-point aver- contacts Singer built with ages and stellar resumes. Donna Heinel, the senior as- The accusations also raised sociate athletic director at serious questions about how USC, as well as coaches at university admissions offi- USC and other schools who cials, athletic departments were willing to lie about stu- and others could have al- dents’ athletic abilities in ex- lowed such blatant fraud to change for bribes. In some go undetected. instances, Singer had pho- There was particular up- tos doctored to superimpose heaval at USC, a campus al- the faces of children onto the ready reeling from several bodies of athletes. Coaches scandals. Prosecutors al- used the fake images to leged that a top athletic de- prove to colleagues that the partment leader as well as kids were athletes. three current and former Of the $1.2 million Singer coaches accepted nearly admitted to taking from a $2 million in bribes to get family that wanted to go to students into the school. Yale, $400,000 was paid to The case names celebri- Allen J. Schaben Los Angeles Times the women’s soccer coach, ties, corporate executives, USC was rocked by the scandal. A senior associate athletic director and the coach of the men’s and women’s Rudolph “Rudy” Meredith, investment bankers, busi- water polo teams were fired Tuesday after being indicted. UCLA’s men’s soccer coach was indicted as well. prosecutors said. The young ness owners, top-tier law- woman was admitted to the yers, and even a best-selling have a learning disability Ivy League school as a soc- author of parenting books. to obtain medical docu- cer recruit despite not They sought Singer out from mentation required to grant playing the sport competi- different parts of the coun- the extra time. tively, according to a court try, but with one overriding Then Singer would pay a filing. goal: To get their children contact at a private school in At USC alone, Heinel is into the best colleges. West Hollywood or one in alleged to have accepted Andrew E. Lelling, the Houston to arrange to ad- $1.3 million in bribes to get a U.S. attorney in Massachu- minister the tests to stu- dozen students into the setts, called the defendants dents. For the exams, Singer school. Three other current “a catalog of wealth and would fly out Mark Riddell, and former members of the privilege.” who worked as a college test- athletic department were Loughlin and Giannulli ing instructor in Florida. For also charged in the case. Af- face charges, as well as ac- afee, Riddell would either ter the charges were an- tress Felicity Huffman and simply take the exam for the nounced, the university fired 30 other parents accused student or correct answers Heinel and longtime men’s of hiring Singer to get their afterward, Lelling said. and women’s water polo children into desired Riddell, 36, Igor Dvorskiy, coach Jovan Vavic, who is ac- schools. 52, the director of the West cused of taking $250,000 in FBI agents took Hollywood College Prepara- bribes. Former USC wom- Huffman into custody early tory School, and Niki en’s soccer coach Ali Khos- Tuesday morning at her Jordan Strauss Invision Williams, 44, a college test roshahin, who was fired by home in Los Angeles. She FELICITY HUFFMAN administrator in Houston USC in 2013, and his former was led away in handcuffs allegedly paid $15,000 to have all been charged in the assistant coach, Laura and taken to a federal hold- get a high SAT score for case. Janke, who left the school in ing facility downtown along one of her daughters. Huffman, who garnered 2014 , were also named. with 11 others, authorities fame from her role on the TV To sell the lie that Lough- said. She spent hours in de- unattainable to underprivi- show “Desperate House- lin and Giannulli’s kids were tention before being freed on ARodriguez EPA/Shutterstock leged students,” according wives,” and her husband, ac- talented rowers, Singer had $250,000 bond during a hear- J. MOSSIMO Giannulli and Lori Loughlin allegedly to paperwork. tor William H. Macy, paid Giannulli photograph them ing in a courtroom where her paid $500,000 to get their two daughters admitted to In reality, however, Sing- Singer $15,000 last year for a both working out on a row- husband, actor William H. USC, taking spots designated for the rowing team. er used the foundation to high SAT score Riddell or- ing machine, court docu- Macy, looked on. An attor- collect payments from par- chestrated for their daugh- ments show. Singer for- ney for Huffman declined to dren’s college admission were aware of the con ents and pay bribes, court ter, according to a criminal warded the photos to Hei- comment on the charges. exams or write larger checks carried out on their behalf, records show. Because they complaint filed against nel, who used them and In announcing the to buy spots that colleges re- but that others were kept in were writing checks or, in at Huffman that alleges con- other fabrications to sway a charges, Lelling said the serve for athletes. the dark by their parents. least one case transferring spiracy to commit mail and selection committee, prose- yearlong investigation is the Alaw enforcement offi- This was a case, said Jo- stock in Facebook, to a char- wire fraud. Macy has not cutors said. largest of its kind in the cial familiar with the probe seph R. Bonavolonta, spe- ity, parents were able to been charged, although in- On phone calls captured country and left open the but not authorized to dis- cial agent in charge of the write off their payments to vestigators said in an affi- by investigators and tran- possibility that charges cuss it publicly said federal FBI in Boston, in which par- Singer as tax deductions, davit that he joined his wife scribed in court filings, some against more people could authorities had gone to sev- ents “flaunted their wealth, Lelling said. for a meeting with Singer at parents voiced ethical follow. eral prominent high schools sparing no expense, to cheat Parents who worried which the testing scam was qualms or nerves about get- Singer, 58, pleaded guilty in Southern California seek- the system so they could set their children would not discussed. ting caught but pressed Tuesday in a Boston court- ing records related to stu- their children up for success score high enough on stand- Riddell got the girl a ahead. Others embraced the room to racketeering and dents whose parents are be- with the best education ardized tests were charged score of 14 20 on the 1600- opportunity with enthusi- other charges as part of a lieved to have hired Singer. money could buy, literally.” between $15,000 and $75,000 point SAT exam, according asm. plea agreement with prose- In phone conversations Singer, who owns a col- to put their fears to rest, ac- to an affidavit filed by an FBI “It’s the home run of cutors. He admitted to col- with parents secretly re- lege preparation company, cording to court records. agent in the case. It was a home runs,” Singer assured lecting more than $25 mil- corded by agents, Singer ran his ploy through Key Singer instructed par- 400-point jump over what Gordon Caplan, an attorney lion between 2011 and Febru- boasted he had helped more Worldwide Foundation, a ents to petition for their chil- she had scored on an earlier from New York, when he ary this year in a two- than 850 students of the charity he started in 2012, dren to be designated as test — an improvement pur- called to to ask about Sing- pronged scheme in which wealthy and powerful to lie prosecutors said in court pa- having special needs that re- posefully calibrated by Sing- er’s test-taking service. parents could pay tens of their way into colleges in just pers. quired them to be allotted er to impress college admis- “And it works?” Caplan thousands of dollars to have two years. Lelling said that The organization’s mis- additional time to take the sion officers but not so large asked. an expert test-taker on Sing- in some of the cases known sion was “to provide educa- exams. In at least one in- as to draw suspicion, au- “Every time,” Singer er’s payroll take their chil- to investigators the children tion that would normally be stance, a student claimed to thorities said. replied, laughing. The idea that ‘the system is rigged’ feels so real

STEVE LOPEZ right, that wasn’t enough. paying $500,000 in bribes to sideration of those whose If these people think candy, ice cream, chips — as So they cheated to get have their two daughters admission dreams were their kids need a leg up, I’d often as you cared to return. We’ve been their kids into some of the designated as recruits for snuffed to make room. be happy to give them a tour Even rival gang members hearing about most elite universities in the the USC crew team. You can’t really blame of Telfair Elementary dropped their dukes and it for years. United States, according to One of the two daughters the kids for what the grown- School in Pacoima, where stood together at the gate, The system the indictment. babbles in a YouTube video ups are accused of doing, nearly a quarter of the chil- awaiting snacks. is rigged. Some parents allegedly about her academic inter- and in some cases, it’s not dren don’t have stable hous- Mejia says he remains Donald paid hundreds of thousands ests. “I don’t really care clear the kids even knew ing. inspired years after Glen’s Trump went to put in the fix on SAT about school,” she says, what was happening. Or, for a different view of death by his selfless gesture, at it from the scores, or to bribe school adding that she does want But if the charges are what college is all about, which brought a measure of right, Bernie officials, while others paid to participate in game days true, what kind of world do they could pay a visit to my peace to a troubled neigh- Sanders from millions. and partying. She later these people live in? I can’t Cal State L.A.class, where borhood. the left. They “We’re talking about apologized for her remarks. think of a more corrosive most of the students come My students may not be targeted different villains deception and fraud — fake Actress Felicity Huffman parental lesson than to out of underfunded public able to buy their way into but identified the same test scores, fake credentials, is accused of disguising a teach kids that if they can’t schools. The bribes and fees fancy colleges, but they casualty. fake photographs, bribed $15,000 charity payment in a quite make the cut, it allegedly paid by a single arrive with a set of powerful The little guy. The one college officials,” Andrew bribery scheme with the doesn’t matter, no need to one of the corrupt parents tools. They’re scrappy, who kept falling further Lelling, U.S. attorney for the goal of upping her daugh- work a little harder, not if would more than cover a hungry and intimately behind while a select few District of Massachusetts, ter’s SAT score. Huffman is you have money. year’s tuition for the whole familiar with the skills of prospered. said at a news conference the wife of actor William H. If the private schools and class. survival, and they’re driven And now we can see it as Tuesday. As he spoke, some Macy, star of a TV drama in SAT prep courses can’t do On Monday, I asked one by a desire to make their clear as the writing on the of the four dozen accused which a main character was the trick, the proudly enti- of my students, Christian parents proud with hard indictment. perps were still being busted for taking SAT tests tled know how to win the Mejia, to read his paper work. Many of them take The college entrance rounded up and paraded for other students. The game anyway. aloud. The assignment was more than four years to get cheating scandal unveiled into courtrooms in a na- show is called “Shameless,” And by the way, enough to write about life in L.A., their degrees because by federal prosecutors on tional spectacle of moral and what can I add to that? already with the idea that in and he’d written a gem of an they’re working a job or two Tuesday is a story for our depravity. Rick Singer, the Newport acountry with thousands of essay about growing up or taking care of their elders time, a perfect snapshot of And California — na- Beach owner of a college universities, only a handful surrounded by violence. or their youngers. fatuous American greed and tional capital of both wealth admissions company, was are worth going to. Mejia wrote that his They have no mommies savage inequality. and poverty — played a described by prosecutors as Parents and kids focused block was the only one in his and daddies who can fix The parents charged in central role in the scandal. the mastermind of the only on exclusive schools neighborhood on which you SAT scores. Where they the scheme are rich and Heads have already scheme, which was de- are wasting time, money didn’t have to worry about come from, on the other side connected, and their chil- rolled at UCLA and USC. signed to get students into and energy on the paper gangs or shootings or graf- of the rigged world, there dren had all the advantages Actress Lori Loughlin UCLA, USC, Stanford, Yale chase and subjecting chil- fiti. An elderly gent named are no shortcuts. that come with such privi- and her husband, clothing and Georgetown, regardless dren to ridiculous levels of Glen lived on the street and And they’re better for it. lege. brand creator J. Mossimo of whether they’d earned pressure. once he got to know you, he But, if prosecutors are Giannulli, are accused of the shot and without con- And for what? handed you free snacks — [email protected] LATIMES.COM WEDNESDAY,MARCH 13 ,2019 A9 College prep, admissions are a huge business

[Admissions, from A1] inequality, restricting op- ‘This is an portunity and corrupting higher education’s role in amazing pulling the nation’s democracy. She said she met a test- back of the prep company executive curtain on what who admitted his tutors teach students to cheat on we always standardized tests, and she has found firms that charge suspected was as much as $40,000 for col- happening.’ lege admissions coaching. “This is an amazing —Susan Paterno, pulling back of the curtain Chapman University professor, on what we always sus- who is writing a book pected was happening,” on college admissions Paterno said of the federal indictments. “But we thought they were isolated also admits and educates incidents ... and didn’t real- large numbers of low- ize it was so widespread.” income, first-generation col- She added, however, that lege students. And the Cali- only 2% of college applicants fornia Community Colleges, aim for Ivy League cam- which educates about 2 mil- Gary Coronado Los Angeles Times puses and other elite institu- lion students across 114 cam- THE GOVERNOR’S order will grant temporary reprieves to all 737 death row inmates, prompting the clo- tions. The vast majority set puses, has no entrance re- sure of the San Quentin prison execution chamber and scuttling efforts to devise a method for lethal injection. their sights on state and lo- quirements, offering higher cal colleges and universities. education to all. Douglas Haynes, a UC But Oakley and others Irvine vice provost for aca- say more reforms are State executions will be halted demic equity, diversity and needed. As sensational as inclusion, said the college the alleged criminal scheme admissions landscape be- is, they say, the deeper prob- gan radically shifting in the lem is the way in which mon- [Death penalty, from A1] Though the death penal- 1990s. Students who used to ey legally gives well-heeled Wednesday morning. “It has ty never emerged as a major apply to a few local colleges applicants an advantage discriminated against de- Time served by the 24 inmates who issue in the 2018 governor’s could more easily try their in the college admissions fendants who are mentally have exhausted all appeals race, Newsom has been out- luck at dozens of schools us- game. ill, black and brown, or can’t spoken about his opposition ing centralized online ad- Mark Sklarow, chief exe- afford expensive legal repre- HarveyHeishman 37 years, 11 months to capital punishment. The missions platforms, such as cutive of the Independent sentation. It has provided no governor endorsed failed the Common Application. Educational Consultants public safety benefit or value Albert Brown 37 years ballot measures in 2012 and Colleges began recruiting Assn., said donations can as a deterrent. It has wasted 2016 that would have abol- more students — both to in- still give wealthy applicants billions of taxpayer dollars.” William Payton 36 years, 11 months ished the death penalty in crease diversity and to bring aleg up. The process, which Newsom also argues in California. Newsom also opin revenue from application he said he’s not a fan of, his remarks that the crimi- RonaldDeere 36 years, 3 months posed a separate statewide fees that helped them doesn’t operate as a quid pro nal justice system is suscep- ballot measure in 2016, Pro- weather cyclical recessions, quo but as more of a wink tible to error, citing a Ricardo Sanders 36 years, 3 months position 66, to accelerate the he said. and a nod. For example, November Los Angeles appeals process in capital Michael Morales 35 years, 8 months At the same time, more Sklarow said, someone in Times editorial that re- cases, which California vot- applications lowered admis- the donation office might ported 16 4 condemned pris- ers narrowly approved. DouglasMickey 35 years, 5 months sion rates, which helped promise to “walk it over to oners nationwide who were Shortly after his election campuses burnish reputa- the admissions dean’s of- wrongly convicted had been JohnVisciotti 35 years, 4 months in November, Newsom di- tions as selective institu- fice” and ensure that they freed from death row since rected his legal advisors to tions in highly influential know about the significant 1973. He also cites a 2005 Scott Pinholster 34 years, 8 months assess his options as Califor- college rankings published gift. Santa Clara University Law nia’s chief executive, which by U.S. News & World Re- Michael Dannenberg, a Review study that con- Richard Boyer 34 years, 2 months include the constitutional port, he and Paterno said. director with Education Re- cluded people convicted of power to commute death As state governments reform Now, said that “binding killing whites were more Kevin Cooper 33 years, 9 months sentences and issue tempo- duced public support for early decision” programs, likely to be sentenced to rary reprieves. higher education, many which give an edge to those death than people convicted RaynardCummings 33 years, 5 months To impose a de facto mor- campuses began recruiting who commit early to colleges of killing blacks and Latinos. atorium on capital punish- students paying out-of-state but stop applicants from The executive order is Tiequon Cox 32 years, 10 months ment in California, Newsom tuition, including many from shopping around for better likely to trigger legal chal- will grant reprieves to all other countries. That in turn financial aid options, also fa- lenges by pro-death penalty Anthony Sully 32 years, 7 months death row inmates that will swelled the number of appli- vor the wealthy. organizations and county stay in place throughout his cants even more. Varsha Sarveshwar, a UC prosecutors who have been Conrad Zapien 31 years, 11 months time as governor. But the re- UCLA, the most popular Berkeley junior majoring in forceful advocates for capi- prieves will expire as soon as MitchellSims 31 years, 5 months university in the nation, now political science, said she tal punishment in Califor- Newsom leaves office, push- attracts more than 110,000 knows people who have paid nia. In February, the associ- ing the life-and-death deci- Guy Rowland 30 years, 8 months applications for about 6,000 thousands of dollars for test ation representing deputy sions to his successor. freshman seats. prep and hired private col- district attorneys in Los An- Richard Samayoa 30 years, 8 months Newsom also has author- “All of this is driving lege counselors as early as geles County accused Cali- ity to commute sentences to manic competitiveness in their middle-school years to fornia’s elected officials of Tracy Cain 30 years, 7 months life in prison for condemned college admissions at all lev- guide their class selection foot-dragging on enforcing inmates convicted of a single els,” Paterno said. “A lot of and extracurricular activ- the death penalty because RonaldoAyala 30 years felony. But the governor can- this hype is making families ities. they “smugly substitute not commute the sentences crazy.” In other cases, wealthy their own values over the Albert Cunningham 29 years, 8 months of prisoners convicted of two The University of Califor- parents have sent their chil- ratified votes of the major- separate felonies — a popu- nia, the nation’s premier dren abroad for volunteer ity.” Robert Fairbank 29 years, 5 months lation that includes more public research university work or helped them start Kent Scheidegger, legal than half the inmates on system, has not been businesses to burnish their director of the pro-death- Hector Ayala 29 years, 3 months death row — without the ap- immune to admission and college resumes. penalty Criminal Justice Le- proval of the California cheating scandals. “It’s pretty clear there’s a gal Foundation, called New- Ricky Earp 27 years Supreme Court. In 2007, the UCLA den- lot of deep-rooted inequity in som’s actions “an abuse of 10 years 20 30 The court rejected 10 tistry school was rocked by the system,” Sarveshwar power.” Although Newsom commutations handed out allegations that the children said. has the constitutional au- Sources: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Times reporting by Gov. Jerry Brown in his of wealthy donors received She and Oakley say col- thority to grant reprieves to Los Angeles Times last full month in office — all favorable admissions con- leges should make SAT and condemned inmates, he of which involved people sideration in the highly com- ACT tests optional for ad- does not have the power to convicted of multiple fel- petitive orthodontics resi- missions — a proposal that order the state Department onies — and did not provide dency program. the UC and CSU systems are of Corrections and Rehabili- an explanation for the ac- The Westwood campus considering. tation to close the death tion. subsequently prohibited Paterno advocates gov- chamber or halt efforts to es- It was the first time in influencing admissions with ernment oversight of the un- tablish a lethal injection pro- decades that California’s donations. And UC has regulated college consulting tocol, Scheidegger said. top court rejected a gover- eliminated preferential con- industry and more generous California law requires nor’s commutations, which sideration for the children of state and federal funding to corrections officials to main- should serve as a warning to alumni, a practice known as help middle-class, working- tain the ability to carry out Newsom, Scheidegger said. “legacy admissions” that class and low-income stu- executions, he added. Scheidegger’s organiza- tends to favor wealthier fam- dents earn degrees. “He’s following in the tion was one of the main pro- ilies. Such funding should, for footsteps of other governors ponents of the successful The system also has instance, provide more col- who abused this power be- 2016 ballot measure to fast- moved toward a broader re- lege counselors for public cause they were frustrated track executions in Califor- view of applicants to con- high schools, she said. Other by a law that they just per- nia, which passed by a mar- sider not only test scores reform ideas include lim- sonally disagreed with,” gin of just 2 percentage and high-school grades but iting federal work-study and Scheidegger said. points. In that same elec- also extracurricular activ- merit aid programs to needi- The moratorium is just tion, a competing ballot ities, leadership and persist- er families and redirecting to the latest of Newsom’s ef- measure to repeal the death ence over challenging cir- community colleges money forts to deliver on the bold, penalty and commute sen- cumstances, to widen access for subsidies and tax credits liberal agenda that defined tences to life in prison, Pro- to a great swath of students. to for-profit colleges. his successful 2018 guberna- position 62, failed by just Today, the UC system’s Oakley added that other torial campaign and helped over 6 percentage points. nine undergraduate cam- states should emulate Cali- him emerge as one of Presi- Newsom first signaled his puses are widely regarded as fornia’s robust financial aid dent Trump’s main political possible intentions regard- powerful engines of social program, among the most foils. ing the death penalty in Feb- mobility. Four in 10 students generous in the nation. He On his first day in office, ruary when he signed an exe- are the first in their families supports eliminating legacy the former lieutenant gover- Rich Pedroncelli Associated Press cutive order for new DNA to attend college, and finan- admissions and college rat- nor and San Francisco may- GOV. GAVIN Newsom calls the death penalty sys- tests in the quadruple-mur- cial aid covers tuition and ing systems that favor the or outlined a dramatic Medi- tem a failure, saying it is discriminatory, unjust and der case of death row inmate fees for about two-thirds of wealthy. Cal expansion that would “inconsistent with our bedrock values.” Kevin Cooper, who was sen- students. “The real scandal is what cover young immigrant tenced to death in 1985 after The 23-campus Califor- is legal in college admis- adults who are in the U.S. il- tions to resume. The gover- Supreme Court reinstated he was convicted of killing nia State University system sions,” Dannenberg said. legally and later promised a nor promised to be as “pro- the death penalty in 1976. Doug and Peggy Ryen and major expansion of paid active” on the death penalty During that same time, 79 their 10 -year-old daughter, family leave in California. as he was on the issue of gay death row inmates have died Jessica, as well 11-year-old Newsom’s first proposed marriage, when, as mayor of of natural causes and 26 Christopher Hughes, who budget included a $1-billion San Francisco, he ordered have died by suicide, accord- was unrelated to the family. “working families tax cred- the city to issue same-sex ing to the California Depart- They were found stabbed to it,” more than double the marriage licenses in 2004, a ment of Corrections and Re- death in a Chino Hills home. state’s existing tax break for catalyst in a legal battle that habilitation. Newsom’s executive or- low-income workers, and set ended when the U.S. “I do not believe that a der came after Cooper’s at- aside $500 million to help lo- Supreme Court affirmed the civilized society can claim to torneys alleged that key cal governments build shel- right of LGBTQ people to be a leader in the world as pieces of evidence were not ters and add services to help marry in 2015. long as its government con- properly tested and needed the homeless. With 24 inmates on death tinues to sanction the pre- to be analyzed with modern California has not ex- row who have exhausted meditated and discrimi- technology. ecuted a prisoner since 2006 their appeals, Newsom in natory execution of its peo- “Especially in cases because of a series of legal Februarysaidhe feared Cali- ple,” Newsom says in his pre- where the government seeks challenges to its method of fornia could execute “more pared remarks. “In short, to impose the ultimate pun- lethal injection. But New- prisoners than any other the death penalty is incon- ishment of death, I need to Joe Raedle Getty Images som said he believed those state in modern history” if sistent with our bedrock val- be satisfied that all relevant SOME EXPERTS say colleges should make SAT and court cases would be re- no action was taken. ues and strikes at the very evidence is carefully and ACT exams optional for admissions — a proposal that solved while he was in office, California has executed heart of what it means to be fairly examined,” Newsom the UC and CSU systems are considering. clearing the way for execu- 13 people since the U.S. aCalifornian.” said. A10 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13 ,2019 LATIMES.COM/OPINION OPINION

EDITORIALS LETTERS ------

years of the Trump admin- Bribing your way into college istration? Biden should become president because he can work with Republi- he indictment of dozens of these athletes underperform academically. cans. wealthy parents, including sev- Wealthier parents have also gamed the Iam sure that the other eral Hollywood actresses and part of the college application in which stu- candidates are decent men business leaders, along with the dents show that they have engaged in mean- and women with strong T leadership skills, but most top college athletic coaches they ingful community service, often by sending are running on platforms allegedly bribed, tells a shocking story of their children on high-priced trips to vil- that appeal to their fanati- corruption and deception in college admis- lages in developing countries, where they cal base. We don’t need a sions. If the charges are true, these privi- help build playgrounds or coach kids’ soccer revolutionary in the White leged but desperate parents sought to en- in between their recreational tourist activ- House; we just need a sure spots at elite schools by pretending ities. At the more ambitious end, Richard leader we can actually look their children were top-flight athletes, help- Weissbourd, lead author of a Harvard Uni- Luis Sinco Los Angeles Times up to and be proud of. ing them cheat on standardized tests, and versity report on problematic college-ad- TRAFFIC CRAWLS on the 110 Freeway. Metro Issam Najm paying off college officials, among other missions policies, said he knows of wealthy will study congestion pricing to ease traffic. Porter Ranch things. Coaches allegedly pocketed millions parents who shelled out money to start a of dollars in some cases for their role in help- nonprofit school in Botswana just so their :: ing get the children admitted. daughter could claim on her college applica- They go. You don’t But let’s not kid ourselves. This is simply tion that she had created it; another family Unannounced, yet ahead in most polls, Biden the extreme and egregious (and, prose- did the same with a clinic in Bali. Re “It’s high time that drivers pay to play,” column, could make one bold move cutors say, illegal) edge of a college admis- Any students currently in college as a re- March 10 sions process that is already heavily sult of outright bribery should have their ad- to ensure his presidency: weighted with subtle and unsubtle forms of mission revoked. Whether or not they con- Select a running mate early Iagree that car drivers need to pay to travel alone in and announce as a ticket. favoritism for the rich, empowered and consciously participated, their presence at col- their cars on the streets of Los Angeles if we are to do nected. The offspring of major donors gen- lege is based on fraud — and the seats Were his campaign sign anything to combat congestion. But the idea of selling to include a Stacy Abrams, erally receive favorable treatment at private they’re filling could be taken by other stu- car lane access to people willing to pay a fee is not the Rep. Linda Sanchez or colleges, as do the children of alumni, who dents with legitimate credentials. way to do it. even Sen. Kamala Harris, it tend to be a far more privileged group than But colleges cannot claim to be the hap- We need to make single-car drivers pay by making would all but guarantee other applicants. less victims of parental manipulation of the them sit in traffic. We need more lanes dedicated our 2024 Democratic presi- Furthermore, the parents of affluent admissions process. Despite their supposed exclusively to buses, bicycles, scooters, carpools and even dential candidate would be children commonly hire private college-ad- belief in a system of merit-based admis- motorcycles. We can make more streets one way to awoman and a minority. mission counselors who sometimes edit or sions, the reality is that they have created accommodate dedicated traffic lanes for these alternate This is more than rewrite — or even write — student essays for and tolerated a lopsided system that, de- modes of transportation. “checking the boxes.” It them and coach them intensively through spite some efforts to the contrary, continues Yes, we can make drivers pay for driving alone down would assure moderate the process. These techniques are not il- to benefit the rich over potentially more de- city streets and freeways — by having them spend more Democrats and Republi- legal. In 2016, journalist Jia Tolentino wrote serving students with lesser means. time in gridlock than they would if they took a carpool or cans that the presidency in the publication Jezebel about her years Colleges could start fixing this by elimi- public transportation or rode a bike. will pass back to someone supporting herself by charging wealthy fam- nating the admissions preference for chil- Andrew Tilles who respects the office and believes in bipartisanship, ilies $150 an hour to write or rewrite their dren of alumni, by demanding strong aca- Studio City teens’ essays. In a more extreme example, demic performance from all applicants, in- while offering “on the job the counseling company Ivy Coach charged cluding athletes, and by forbidding students training” and political one woman $1.5 million to smooth her to use paid professional help to complete Michael Hiltzik lends revealing article with any- visibility to our first woman daughter’s path to an Ivy League college. their applications. Students in better- his voice to the notion that one who expresses the president. The admissions advantage given to ath- funded schools would still have advantages, raising the cost of driving least inclination to vote for Loretta Redd athird-party candidate. letes also helps rich kids nab coveted spots but not by as much as they do when they will have a positive impact Santa Barbara on L.A. rush-hour com- Had just half of two key at elite schools. According to a 2016 reportby hire private outside counselors. Applicants muting and cause more states’ third-party votes in the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, “The should have to sign a statement that their people to take public tran- 2016 been diverted to Hilla- Tax the rich. popular notion that recruited athletes tend essays represent solely their work, and that sit. ry Clinton, we would have to come from minority and indigent families they understand their admission will be re- My example is common: been spared Trump’s It’s only fair turns out to be just false; at least among the voked if it’s found otherwise. Applicants Ihave an eight-mile com- destructive reign. Progres- highly selective institutions, the vast bulk of would still lie here and there, and it is not mute that takes between 15 sives need to stop wasting Re “Taxes be damned, the recruited athletes are in sports that are clear what meaningful enforcement there and 50 minutes, depending votes on unelectable third- rich keep moving here,” rarely available to low-income, particularly could be. But at least students — and their on traffic. If I take mass party candidates and unite column, March 11 urban, applicants.” Football and basketball desperate parents — might hesitate if they transit, it can take hours. against the existential players are far outnumbered by those in knew they’d be committing fraud. That’s a deal breaker right threat that Trump’s reelec- George Skelton claims sports that aren’t found in most urban pub- At the very least, it would send a mes- off the bat, even before tion would pose. that California’s tax sys- lic schools: fencing, crew, equestrian events sage that colleges are serious about leveling considering the other If conservatives like tem is unsustainable be- and the like. Once admitted, the report said, the slanted playing field of admissions. onerous aspects of using Jennings can favor cynical cause the top 5% of income Metro. pragmatism over purist earners pay two-thirds of The reality is that peo- idealism, so should pro- all state taxes, while the ple drive in rush-hour gressives. bottom 80% pay only 11%. traffic because they must, P. Jane Weil The simple reason for not because they want to. Sacramento this is that the 5% happen Metro is not a realistic to make most of the money, Pelosi’s take on impeachment option. Creating new fees :: while the lower 80% of the for commuting will not population is living pay- improve the commute or Jennings is very insight- check to paycheck. The ouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi enormous rancor against the party bringing make Metro any less objec- ful in his analysis of why I vast majority of taxpayers (D-San Francisco) has said the charges. Witness how the Republicans’ tionable. will never quit Trump. just aren’t making enough multiple times over the last two impeachment of Clinton backfired against New fees will simply be a The president is strong money to pay more in years that it was premature to the party in the 1998 midterm election. money grab with no upside enough, bold enough and taxes. H for commuters. crazy enough to beat the If you had to choose talk about impeaching Presi- But that doesn’t mean impeachment dent Trump. In an interview published should be off the table either. David Garrett elitist media and any between making a lot of Monday by the Washington Post, however, Some observers suggested that Pelosi Los Angeles Democrat challenging him. money and paying the tax she added five words that put an exclama- was ruling out impeachment regardless of Trump is fearless at work- consequences, or making tion point on her view: “He’s just not worth what’s found by Mueller, other federal pros- ing to protect American very little money and pay- it.” ecutors or a raft of investigations launched GOP loyalty workers and fighting to ing almost no state taxes, secure our southern bor- which choice would you Her comment exploded like a bomb on by House Democrats. If so, they’re ignoring der. make? both sides of the partisan divide, drawing an what she actually said. to Trump Lower taxes, fewer S.R. Fischer overreaction from Republicans and Demo- Besides, if she was trying to silence the Re “Why Republicans will regulations, respect for the Los Angeles crats alike. It would behoove everyone to impeachment chatter in her caucus, it never quit Trump,” Opin- American flag and the take a deep breath and consider the full didn’t work. Several of Pelosi’s colleagues ion, March 10 appointment of conserva- :: measure of Pelosi’s remarks, which were insisted that they were going to press ahead tive judges are just a few of both sensible and, apparently, necessary. with efforts to remove Trump; one example Scott Jennings raised the policies that Trump Skelton’s two most To be clear, this page has been scathingly is first-year Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), some good points in his supporters love. The recent columns regarding critical of the man we have called “our dis- who said she’s still planning to introduce im- analysis of the extraordi- strong economy is a winner taxes were entertaining honest president.” We’ve repeatedly called peachment legislation in a few weeks. nary loyalty that Republi- for us all. and informative, but they him dangerous, demagogic and unqualified Meanwhile, some Republicans put their cans have for President Gloria Simms failed to inform readers for the job he holds. Nevertheless, we have own spin on Pelosi’s remarks, saying they Trump. It seems that the Winnetka why we have high income also said lawmakers should approach the vindicated Trump. White House Press Sec- Democratic leadership and sales taxes: Pro- question of impeachment cautiously, and retary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, for exam- may have been unaware of :: position 13. have urged them to wait to see what special ple, said on Fox News, “I’m glad that she the loathing many Repub- Why is it so difficult to counsel Robert S. Mueller III reports about sees what the rest of us see, that there’s no licans had for Hillary Clin- Jennings’ piece seems make the logical connec- issues surrounding possible Russian collu- reason, there’s no cause for impeachment. ton or took for granted to reflect an ongoing Re- tion between the two? Our sion with Trump’s 2016 campaign. The president’s done an incredible job in his some of the voters away publican nihilism. Let the property taxation system Such caution is appropriate because, as first two years in office.” from the coasts. environment decay, gov- is badly broken and grossly Imust take issue with ernments worldwide slide unjust to new buyers. we noted in a June 2017 editorial, impeach- Just guessing here, but that’s probably Jennings’ statement that into right-wing neo-fas- Might I suggest a follow- ment is a traumatic process that almost by not the message Pelosi thought she was de- Republicans got angrier cism and the U.S. retreat up column? Skelton should definition damages public confidence in livering. “as a succession of hon- from leadership in world write about the split-role democratic institutions. A lengthy proceed- Other Republicans speculated that Pel- orable leaders — George W. affairs — because you are property tax initiative that ing that weakened or humiliated Trump but osi was trying to get out ahead of a Mueller Bush, Mitt Romney, John mad at the Clintons? recently qualified for the didn’t result in his removal would certainly report that will come up empty on collusion McCain — were portrayed My parents’ generation 2020 ballot. deepen the nation’s bitter divisions — and, —a“nothingburger,” in their parlance. It’s by the media as stupid, had a phrase for this atti- John Murphy frankly, even if the House impeached unlikely but possible that Pelosi has some feeble or criminal.” tude: cutting off your nose Lomita Trump, the Republican-controlled Senate advance knowledge about what Mueller, Perhaps Jennings for- to spite your face. What a would be unlikely to convict him. who is reportedly wrapping up, has found, got when Trump said legacy for the Republicans, Some members of Congress have dis- but he’s already obtained indictments McCain wasn’t really a war or should I now refer to Charter choice cussed Trump’s removal so blithely, it’s as if against or guilty pleas from 34 people and hero and that “I like people them as the Trumpists. they don’t sense the gravity of such a move. three companies connected to Russia or the who weren’t captured.” Joseph Highcove Re “Charters are a villain Pelosi, by contrast, clearly does. campaign. The only missing link is a direct The media may have criti- Woodland Hills to some, a hero to others,” “I’m not for impeachment,” she told the tie between Russia and Trump himself. cized the policies of these column, March 10 Post. “Impeachment is so divisive to the Lawmakers will have the actual findings politicians, but in general country that unless there’s something so of the Mueller report in due time, followed they did not criticize their Republicans like Former school board compelling and overwhelming and biparti- eventually by the results of (long overdue) heroism or personal life. member, L.A. City Council- san, I don’t think we should go down that oversight work by House committees. Like the vast wealth Joe Biden too woman and state legislator that he inherited from his Jackie Goldberg, who is path, because it divides the country. And They’ll also be able to judge how Trump re- father, Trump inherited a Re “Why Biden could win,” running for a seat on the he’s just not worth it.” sponds to these inquiries, and whether he robust economy and a Opinion, March 11 L.A. Unified School Dis- It’s hard to fault that position. The im- tries to use the powers of his office to impede country that undeniably trict Board of Education, is peachment process seeks to overturn a deci- them. Then they can weigh the division and leads the world. A true test Joshua Spivak provides entitled to avoid charter sion made by tens of millions of voters, so if antipathy of impeachment against their ob- of his professed abilities ahistorical perspective of schools for her own chil- it’s seen as a partisan act, it can shake the ligations to the office they hold, and decide hinges on his ability to vice presidents who as- dren, but she has no right public’s faith in the system and generate whether Trump is worth it. maintain this admirable cended to the Oval Office. to deny others a choice. status during the remain- He notes that former Vice In a democracy, people ing years of his presidency. President Joe Biden could express themselves by Jonathan Kaunitz win the Democratic Party’s voting. The wait lists for Santa Monica nomination for president admission to charter in 2020 because of his asso- schools are evidence that EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong :: ciation with the highly they’ve already made their EXECUTIVE EDITOR Norman Pearlstine popular President Obama. voices heard. MANAGING EDITOR Thanks for running There are two other Walt Gardner Scott Kraft Jennings’ explanation of reasons that Biden could Los Angeles SENIOR DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Kimi Yoshino how Trump, for all his win. First, he is a decent,

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITORS painfully obvious short- honorable person who Sewell Chan, Julia Turner comings, will enjoy GOP loves his country and hu- HOW TO WRITE TO US ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITORS voters’ near-unanimous manity. Len De Groot, Stuart Emmrich, Shelby Grad, Loree Matsui, Angel Rodriguez, Michael Whitley support for his reelection. Second, Biden can work Please send letters to Opinion To be sure, I’m not with people of all political [email protected]. For

Nicholas Goldberg EDITOR OF THE EDITORIAL PAGES impressed by Jennings’ persuasions (or at least the submission guidelines, see FOUNDED DECEMBER 4, 1881 Sue Horton OP-EDAND SUNDAY OPINION EDITOR ends-justify-means take. sane ones). How refreshing latimes.com/letters or call But I plan to share his would that be after four 1-800-LA TIMES, ext. 74511. SPORTS D

WEDNESDAY,MARCH 13,2019 :: LATIMES.COM/SPORTS D Gallinari sits, Clippers fall

with the Clippers on the sec- He is rested on the ond night of back-to-back games, they had to get it second night of from someone else. back-to-back games “We told our guys from day one, we’re not going to and Trail Blazers roll. use all the excuses — youth, whatever,” coach Doc Rivers PORTLAND 125 said before Tuesday’s game. CLIPPERS 104 “We’re just not going to use that.” By Dan Woike So, it was execution, not fatigue, that cost the Clip- There was a stretch of pers in a125-10 4 loss. possessions in the third Gallinari, who also lightly quarter when the Clippers twisted an ankle Monday could’ve really have used against Boston, will be back Danilo Gallinari. in the Clippers’ next game. Arguably the team’s best In the same pregame player, Gallinari could’ve news conference where Riv- helped stifle the Portland ers said the Clippers weren’t Trail Blazers’ momentum as going to make excuses, he it steadily picked up in the also predicted that the team second half. Maybe it would have a tough time would’ve been the calm re- slowing down the Trail Blaz- lease and high-arching shot ers’ backcourt. that would’ve snuffed out a “As long as they have run. Maybe it would’ve been those two guards there, quicker-than-you-expect they’re going to do some win- feet stopping a Damian Lil- ning. They’re very, very diffi- lard drive. cult to guard,” Rivers said. The way he’s been “If you put that plus the sys- playing, it’s a safe bet that it tem that they’re in, it makes would’ve been something. them very difficult to match But with Gallinari not up to. It just does. available because of rest [See Clippers, D6]

Brian van der Brug Los Angeles Times JOVA N VAVIC, who has led USC’s men’s and women’s water polo teams to a combined 16 national titles, is accusedDRof receiving bribesOWtotaling more than $250,000.NINHe was fired by USC Gon Tuesday. IN CORRUPTION

Indictments of USC How a ‘side door’ Robert Gauthier Los Angeles Times CLIPPERS CENTER Ivica Zubac struggles to get a coaches and athletic allegedly allowed rebound in the first quarter but finished with 15. official show depths unqualified students of school’s decline to gain admission Lakers hoping to

DYLAN HERNANDEZ By J. Brady McCollough How innocent they appear reverse the funk in retrospect, those days Aprominent Napa Valley vintner when it felt as if athletic worked feverishly last fall to secure his director Lynn Swann’s daughter’s admission to USC as a water Moments later Kuzma refusal to fire football polo recruit. They stop losing gave a more measured reac- coach Clay Helton marked The catch: The girl wasn’t qualified to tion that reached the oppo- anew low point for USC’s join the powerhouse team that is routinely streak against Bulls, site conclusion. athletic department. among the nation’s best. with James adding to “I had more difficulty,” If only USC’s humilia- Gerry Broome Associated Press That didn’t stop the father, according his highlight reel. Kuzma said. “I threw a tions could still be the UCLA placed indicted to court documents. His effort over more bounce pass. He has the result of simple incompetence, as was the men’s soccer coach Jorge than a year — aided by a for-profit college wide-open little lob, but they case with the banishment of the Song Salcedo on leave. counseling and preparation business in LAKERS 123 both were cool. I give myself Girls from home basketball games to the Newport Beach — included arranging a CHICAGO 107 the edge though.” brief whatever-that-was with assistant fraudulent SAT score, fabricating an ath- Each player assisted Le- football coach Kliff Kingsbury. letic profile that described her as a “2017 By Tania Ganguli Bron James on a reverse Trojan Nation learned Tuesdaythat Inside operation Team MVP” and emailing a photograph of dunk in the second half, both USC’s athletic department was some- ‘Varsity Blues’ another individual playing water polo that CHICAGO — A friendly of them in spectacular fash- thing worse than comically inept. It was was presented as her. A senior athletic de- disagreement arose in the ion. Kuzma’s came first also brazenly corrupt. The audacious scheme that partment official at USC would see to it corner of the visitors locker when he stole the ball and Federal prosecutors allegethat a let wealthy parents get kids that the daughter would receive a condi- room at United Center on lofted it nearly three quar- high-ranking athletic department admin- into elite schools using tional acceptance to the highly selective Tuesday night. ters of the length of the istrator and three coaches received bribes bribes, test cheating and private university. In return, the father “Mine was better!” Josh court, where it bounced and for helping students get accepted to U$C fraud rocks academia. A1 would send the official a check for $50,000. Hart exclaimed after the set up an alley-oop for James —sorry, USC — by falsely designating ‘System is rigged’ Early Tuesday, prosecutors an- Lakers’ 123-107 victory over to complete. United Center them as recruited athletes. In the wake of nounced a dozen indictments in U.S. dis- the Chicago Bulls, scoffing replayed it in slow motion on the indictments, senior associate athletic The cliche feels real when trict court in Boston, alleging a $25-million at Kyle Kuzma sitting just a the video board. director Donna Heinel and men’s and the rich cheat to get chil- racketeering conspiracy in which parents few feet away from him. Hart’s came in the fourth women’s water polo coach Jovan Vavic dren into top colleges, from around the country bribed coaches “That’s not even a question. quarter after a steal by were firedfor [See Hernandez, D4] Steve Lopez writes. A8 and an athletic [See Scandal, D4] Not even a question.” [See Lakers, D6]

No. 1 Gonzaga Chargers and They’ve taken a lot off the top goes down Rams changes Bulldogs lose in WCC Ve teran linebacker championship game, Thomas Davis joining hurting their hopes Chargers and Eric After Kohlschreiber stuns No. 1 Djokovic, Bencic knocks out Osaka for a top NCAA We ddle joins Rams as tournament seed. D5 Lamarcus Joyner and HELENE ELLIOTT from the third round of the Roger Saffold exit. D7 BNP Paribas Open on Tues- INDIAN day. Everything had to fall in Beckham, Bell WELLS — place perfectly for change teams Here’s to the Kohlschreiber to win the pluggers, the continuation of a match Giants trade star runts of the that had been suspended He fixed what receiver to Browns underdog because of rain Monday while ex-Steelers litter, and to night with Djokovic holding wasn’t broken running back agrees those who a1-0 lead. Somehow it all Dodgers’ Hernandez to deal with Jets. D8 toil to come clicked, and the result was a had a career year but back from injuries as much stunning 6-4, 6-4 victory. a bad postseason, so for their own satisfaction as “I’m not unhappy that he has made changes for the fame of a No.1 rank- I’m not in the spotlight. I’m to his swing. D8 ing that might never be avery quiet guy,” theirs. Kohlschreiber said. “Of Angels’ next Here’s to Philipp course, you wish to have Kohlschreiber, a 35-year-old maybe a top-10 ranking once two-way star? German who has never in your career, but if I’m not Jared Wa lsh knows ranked better than16 th in able to achieve that, I’m he has lots of work to the world, usually respect- very happy how my life is do to make it as a able but never good enough John G. Mabanglo EPA/Shutterstock going on.” left-handed reliever Seth Wenig Associated Press to beat a No.1 player until NAOMI OSAKA WAS forced into an uncomfortable And here’s to Belinda and first baseman. D8 Odell Beckham Jr. he booted Novak Djokovic defensive posture by Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic. [See Elliott, D3] D4 WEDNESDAY,MARCH 13 ,2019 S LATIMES.COM/SPORTS

NHL STANDINGS WESTERN CONFERENCE EASTERN CONFERENCE Ducks surprise Predators Pacific W L OL Pts GF GA Metropolitan W L OL Pts GF GA San Jose 43 19 894254 214 Washington 41 22 789240 217 Calgary4320793 250203 NY Islanders 40 22 787200 168 the save. Daniel Sprong used Vegas3827581 212196 Pittsburgh 38 23 985242 213 Matchup between anifty move to get around defenseman Matt Irwin and Arizona 35 30 575187 196 Carolina 38 24 783208 191 teams at opposite lifted a backhander past Edmonton 31 31 769195 223 Columbus3928381 216 208 Rinne for his12th goalto make Vancouver 28 32 965187 217 Philadelphia 34 27 876212 228 ends of spectrum it 3-0 at the 13:59 mark. DUCKS 28 34 965164 216 NY Rangers 28 28 13 69 198 227 doesn’t follow script. Filip Forsberg scored on a KINGS 25 36 858164 220 New Jersey2536959 195241 two-man advantage with 6:44 Central W L OL Pts GF GA Atlantic W L OL Pts GF GA DUCKS 3 left in the third period and cut Winnipeg 40 25 484237 207 x-Tampa Bay53134110 272 183 NASHVILLE 2 the Predators’ deficit to 3-2 on Nashville 39 27 583212 192 Boston 42 19 993211 180 apower play less than one St. Louis 36 26 779199 191 Toronto 42 22 589246 199 By Steve Galluzzo minute later. Dallas 36 28 577174 172 Montreal3726781 211 208 Nashville pulled Rinne for Minnesota 33 29 874191 205 Florida 30 27 12 72 224 234 One team was battling for asixth attacker in the final Colorado30281272223 218 Buffalo 30 30 969194 221 first place in its division, the two minutes, but couldn’t get Chicago3030969 234 256 Detroit 24 36 10 58 189 241 other was battling to remain the equalizer. x-clinched playoff spot Ottawa 23 41 652205 261 out of last place in its division, The win lifted the Ducks but on the ice you couldn’t tell into a tie with idle Vancouver RESULTS which was which for most of for sixth place in the Pacific Tuesday night’s game at Division. AT DUCKS 3 Daniel Sprong scored in a third consecutive game for Honda Center. It was a lackluster start to PREDATORS 2 Anaheim, which has won four of its last six. Looking more like a squad athree-game California swing AT PENGUINS 5 Evgeni Malkin reached 1,000 career points, and in playoff contention instead for Nashville, which was try- CAPITALS 3 Pittsburgh ended Washington’s seven-game win streak. of one with the second-worst ing to leapfrog Winnipeg atop AT BLUE JACKETS 7 Boone Jenner’s first career hat trick lifted Columbus; record in the Western Confer- the Central Division. The Jets BRUINS 4 teammate Sergei Bobrovsky made 27 saves. ence, the Ducks held on to de- lost 5-4 at home to the San Jo- feat Nashville 3-2 in front of se Sharks on Tuesday. COYOTES 3 Darcy Kuemper stopped 39 shots for Arizona, which has 16,811 , who were on the edge of Katharine Lotze Getty Images Gibson stopped 32 shots AT BLUES 1 prevailed in 12 of its last 16 games. their seats in the final, fren- JAYCOB MEGNA of the Ducks and Matt Irwin of for his 20th victory, the 26th AT CANADIENS 3 Carey Price had 20 saves for victory No. 315, becoming zied minutes with the Preda- Nashville get close and personal in the first period. time this season he gave up RED WINGS 1 the winningest goalie in Montreal history. tors buzzing around the Ana- two goals or fewer, and im- SHARKS 5 Joe Pavelski scored with 4.3 seconds remaining, giving heim net desperate for the ty- Ryan Getzlaf took a pass phasis on it,” said Silfverberg, proved to 3-1- 0 in his last four AT JETS 4 San Jose its sixth consecutive victory. ing goal. from Josh Manson, skated in who extended his point streak starts. Starting the game11 points alone and fired the puck past to a career-high six games. Center Ryan Kesler (hip) AT FLAMES 9 Johnny Gaudreau had three goals and three assists, and DEVILS 4 Calgaryscored six times in the third period. out of the final playoff spot, goalie Pekka Rinne for his12th “We’ve been playing pretty and defenseman Brendan the Ducks played as if they be- goal this season 3 minutes 39 good and even the games Guhle (undisclosed) were STARS 2 Ben Bishop (35 saves) recorded his third straight shutout, lieved they could make one seconds into the contest. De- we’ve lost have been close. scratches for the Ducks. They AT SABRES 0 extending his streak to 204 minutes 20 seconds. last postseason push with 11 fenseman Jacob Larsson was The season isn’t over so you are listed as day to day. For complete NHL summaries, go to latimes.com/sports/scores games remaining. They have sent to the box for tripping might as well make the most won four of their last six two minutes later, but goalie of it. We’d like to be in a differ- DUCKS 3, PREDATORS 2 TODAY’S GAMES games. John Gibson made two point- ent position in the standings Nashville...... 0 02—2 Chicago at Toronto, 4 p.m. New Jersey at Edmonton, 6:30 p.m. “We’re all competitive peo- blank saves to help the Ducks but the most important thing DUCKS ...... 210—3 NY Rangers at Vancouver, 7 p.m. ple and we want to make sure kill the penalty. is playing good hockey.” FIRST PERIOD:1. DUCKS, Getzlaf12 (Manson), 3:39. 2. DUCKS, Silfverberg 20 (Larsson, Rakell), 10:56. we’re playing good and Jakob Silfverberg doubled In contrast to Sunday, Penalties—Larsson, DUCKS, (tripping), 5:26. Turris, playing for one another,” de- the lead at the 10 :56 mark of when the Ducks took two NSH, (interference), 15:48. SECOND PERIOD: 3. DUCKS, Sprong 12 (Lindholm, fenseman Cam Fowler said. the first period on a wrist shot shots in the first period of a 3-2 Perry), 13:59. Penalties—Lindholm, DUCKS, (cross- “It always takes a team effort. from the left of the slot that loss to the last-place Kings, checking), 3:49. Bonino, NSH, penalty shot (interfer- WILD-CARD RACES ence on breakaway (penalty shot), 11:47. The first period was great but sailed over the shoulder of the Ducks had eight shots in THIRD PERIOD: 4. Nsh., Forsberg 23 (Granlund, Josi), The top three teams in each division (P-Pacific; C-Central; A-Atlantic; M- we got sloppy as the game Rinne and under the crossbar. the first 20 minutes against 14:16 (pp). 5. Nsh., Forsberg 24 (Granlund, Johansen), Metropolitan) qualify for the playoffs, and the next two teams with the most 15:14 (pp). Penalties—Henrique, DUCKS, (boarding), went on and that allowed It was the winger’s 20th goal Nashville, aggressively fore- 1:24. Subban, NSH, (unsportsmanlike conduct), 4:49. points in each conference qualify as a wild-card team. The races: them to get back in it. Defen- this season and 103rd as a checking to generate quality Terry, DUCKS, (holding), 4:49. Subban, NSH, (slashing), 7:41. Jones, DUCKS, (slashing), 7:41. Megna, DUCKS, WEST (Division) Pts. EAST (Division) Pts. sively, we’re playing from the Duck, moving him past An- opportunities. (holding stick), 12:36. Manson, DUCKS, (delay of inside out, which is the trend drew Cogliano for eighth on Max Jones had a chance to game), 13:51. 1. Dallas (C) 771.Carolina (M) 83 SHOTS ON GOAL: Nsh. 9-10-15—34. DUCKS 8-8-2— in the NHL now. We’re rallying the all-time franchise list. widen the gap on a penalty 2. Arizona (P) 75 2. Columbus (M) 81 18. Power-play conversions—Nsh. 2 of 5. DUCKS 0 of 1. around one another and we’re “Scoring 20 goals is nice, shot with 8:13 left in the sec- GOALIES: Nsh., Rinne 24-18-3 (18 shots-15 saves). 3. Minnesota (C) 74 3. Montreal (A) 81 DUCKS, Gibson 20-21-8 (34-32). Att—16,811 (17,174). starting to see some results.” but I don’t put too much em- ond period, but Rinne made T—2:31. Corruption running rampant

[Hernandez, from D1] The Trojans have become make meaningful changes corruption can thrive. allegedly receiving $1.3 million to college athletics what the since infractions involving At minimum, the uni- and $250,000, respectively, as Trump campaign was to football and men’s basketball versity will have to hire an part of the scheme. elections. In the last 18 resulted in severe NCAA administrator or team of Former women’s soccer months, five people with penalties. The athletic direc- administrators to do a thor- coach Ali Khosroshahin and direct ties to USC sports tor at the time of those viola- ough accounting of every- his former assistant Laura programs have been arrested tions was a former Trojans thing taking place in the Janke also were named in the by the FBI. Two were former football star, Mike Garrett. athletic department. The indictment. coaches, the other three were The athletic director who school also should reconsider What’s next? Tommy still on staff at the time. Men’s replaced Garrett was another the priority it places on Trojan tests positive for basketball associate head former Trojans football star, sports. steroids? coach Tony Bland was appre- Pat Haden. And the current Sports are part of a At least for now, the other hended in September 2017 as athletic director is yet anoth- school’s branding strategy, universities who had coaches part of a wide-ranging inves- er former Trojans football but in this case that has snared in the probe can each tigation into bribery and star, Swann. backfired spectacularly, as it blame a single rogue coach — corruption in the sport. Haden and Swann had no now threatens the very es- like say, men’s soccer coach Bland, eventually fired by the previous background in sence of what USC is sup- Kevork Djansezian Getty Images Jorge Salcedo at UCLA or the school, pleaded guilty in athletic administration, posed to be: an institution of LYNN SWANN, USC’s athletic director, took the job women’s soccer coach “Coop- January to a felony count of which is why it was of little higher learning. without prior athletic administration experience. erating Witness 3” at Yale. conspiracy to commit bribery. surprise when they proved to What was revealed Tues- What distinguished USC All this time, USC had the be incapable of overseeing the day is considerably more roshahin and Janke. The the first place. If sports was the number of individu- audacity to pretend that its school’s signature football serious than the gifts made great irony is that at least one weren’t important, athletes als involved in the scam, athletic department was program. by agents to Bush and former of the fake athletes who wouldn’t have different sets of which made the misconduct more carefully monitoring its If they couldn’t do that — basketball standout O.J. gained admission to USC, admission standards and appear systemic. So it was programs in the aftermath of for a sport they played at very Mayo. A reasonable argu- social media influencer Olivia actress Lori Loughlin particularly laughable when the Reggie Bush scandal. In a high levels, mind you — what ment could be made that Jade Giannulli, appears to be wouldn’t have been able to the university released a statement to the USC com- chance did they have of de- Bush, Mayo and every other profiting from her likeness. pay to have them applied to statement that included the munity Tuesday, Wanda M. tecting criminal conduct revenue-generating college The NCAA prohibits real her presumably underquali- claim that, “USC has not been Austin, the university’s inter- taking place in their build- athlete like them deserve college athletes from doing fied daughter. accused of any wrongdoing.” im president, described the ings? compensation. But there is that. USC should carefully If a high-level adminis- school as “a victim.” What this admissions no excuse for the kind of The university has to consider what it wants to be trator and a legendary water Yes, of its own hubris and scandal illustrates is that selective lowering of admis- reconsider the priority it and take every measure to polo coach aren’t USC, who or neglect. incompetent leadership sion standards that was places on athletics. That’s ensure its employees live up what is? In reality, the school didn’t fosters an environment where aided by Heinel, Vavic, Khos- what created the loophole in to that ideal. Unqualified students allegedly admitted via a ‘side door’

[Scandal, from D1] cused of any wrongdoing and Key,” allegedly joined with that’s what I mean,” Huneeus formality. He told Huneeus not have a football team, but administrator to designate will continue to cooperate Heinel and coaches from said. that he would receive a letter Heinel allegedly brought him their children falsely as re- fully with the government’s in- around the nation to turn ad- In this conversation from from USC saying his daughter forward to the athletic admis- cruited athletes. vestigation.” missions fraud into an art August 2018, the witness de- would be admitted months sions sub-committee as a foot- Court-approved wiretaps AUCLA coach also was inform. tailed the process Heinel and before the official offer letter ball recruit who was being re- taped numerous discussions volved in the alleged scheme. In one exchange in the Vavic allegedly would use to would come in March. cruited to USC as a punter or between parents and a coop- Jorge Salcedo, the men’s soc- complaint, a corroborating get Huneeus’ daughter into “At that point, you will kicker. Part of the fabricated erating federal witness from cer coach, was indicted for alleg- witness — described as a USC — a process authorities write a check for $50,000 … it profile was a photo-shopped the counseling business, de- edly accepting $200,000 in bribes founder of “The Key” and its say was emblematic of what will go to Donna Heinel … it picture of the student’s face tailing how relaxed admission for his role in facilitating the purported charity, “Key Heinel did with other stu- will be made out to USC Wom- on top of a kicker. standards for talented ath- enrollment of one female stu- Worldwide Foundation” or dents. en’s Athletics,” the witness 8 A prospective student letes were used as a “side dent and one male student to “KWF” — said this scheme “I take her transcript, test said. “Essentially, you’ve been was admitted as a women’s door” into the university for the school under the pretense has been used for decades. scores and profile to the sen- admitted before she’s even ap- basketball player. The cor- normal students whose test of being soccer players even plied. OK?” roborating witness told the fa- scores and transcripts were though they did not play the When the official letter ar- ther that Heinel was asked not exemplary enough for ad- sport competitively. UCLA ‘You understand that [my daughter] is rived in March, Huneuus why the young woman was mission on their own. placed Salcedo on leave Tues- would receive an invoice from not playing basketball once The shock waves of the in- day. not worthy to be on that team.’ the KWF charity for $200,000, on campus. In an effort to get dictments could be felt as far The indictment specifies “and then Jovan will call me their story straight, the father west as Waikiki, Hawaii early that in the spring of 2016, Sal- —Agustin Huneeus Jr., and say, ‘OK, this is how I was instructed his daughter Tuesday morning when au- cedo had the help of former Napa Valley vintner, in a call intercepted by a court-approved want the money split,’ and so should say she had a foot in- thorities arrested decorated USC women’s soccer coach Ali wiretap. He is accused of participating in a cheating scheme to get on and so forth,” the witness jury — “plantar fasciitis” — USC water polo coach Jovan Khosroshahin, who was fired his daughter into USC as a water polo recruit. said. which prevented her from Vavic, who was on the island by USC in 2013, and his former “Do all of those funds go to walking onto the team as a to coach his Trojans in an up- assistant coach Laura Janke, On a call intercepted by a ior women’s athletic director, USC, or do some go to stay in freshman. coming women’s contest Sat- who left USC in 2014 . Khos- court-approved wiretap, who actually is the liaison for your foundation?” Huneeus 8 A prospective student, urday. Authorities also roshahin and Janke also were Agustin Huneeus Jr., the fa- all sports at USC. Everything asked. the daughter of “Full House” brought into custody USC indicted and arrested Tues- ther of the fake water polo has to go through her,” the “No, they go to USC in dif- actress Lori Loughlin and senior associate athletic di- day for allegedly fabricating recruit, begins to express to witness states. ferent ways,” the witness said. fashion designer Mossimo Gi- rector Donna Heinel, who is athlete profiles for the pro- the KWF founder — not yet a The witness outlined how “So what Jovan usually does annulli, was allegedly admit- alleged to have received bribe spective non-athlete students government witness — that Heinel met every two weeks is, I subsidize his staff salaries. ted as a recruit of the USC payments totaling more than and receiving payments total- he is worried about being with a sub-committee that Iput two of his staff members women’s crew team, even $1.3 million while facilitating ing nearly $350,000 sent to caught. evaluates athletic admission on my books as contractors. though she did not compete in the entry of more than 24 non- their private soccer club. “You understand that [my candidates. In the complaint, And then I pay them through- crew. Her fabricated profile athletes into the university. The racketeering conspir- daughter] is not worthy to be no candidate was refused by out the year.” included a picture of her work- By Tuesday afternoon, acy spanned 2011 to last on that team,” Huneeus said. the sub-committee. Six universities joined ing out on an ergometer. USC fired Heinel and Vavic, the month, and USC athletics em- “And is there any risk that this “So what she does is,” the USC and UCLA in the com- 8 In April 2017, as tens of 16 -time national champi- ployees — allegedly led by Hei- thing blows up in my face?” witness said, referring to Hei- plaint — Yale, Stanford, Wake thousands of high school sen- onship winner and15-time na- nel, the department’s chief “Hasn’t in 24 years,” the nel, “she already works on pre- Forest, Texas, Georgetown iors nationally awaited the big tional coach of the year who administrative officer and witness said. senting the kids before this and the University of San Di- news from their dream was alleged to have received senior woman administrator “I know, but the environ- gets to the meeting so she ego. But USC was the only schools, Giannulli copied $250,000 in bribes as part of —held important roles ment. … Like some article knows everything about athletic department that had Loughlin on a joyful email to the sweeping scheme. throughout. comes out that the polo team them.” asenior administrator alleg- the witness. The subject: “We are aware of the on- A200-page complaint re- is selling seats into the school After they are approved for edly involved in the scheme. “Trojan happiness.” going wide-ranging criminal leased Tuesday showed how for 250 grand,” Huneeus said. admission, the witness said, There were other exam- investigation involving uni- the Newport Beach-based “Well, no, because she’s a the students have to go ples of methods used to get Times staff writers Matt versities nationwide, includ- college counseling business, water polo player,” the wit- through the process to get ap- students into USC: Hamilton, Ben Bolch and ing USC,” a USC statement The Edge College & Career ness said. proved by the NCAA clearing- 8 A prospective student Nathan Fenno contributed read. “USC has not been ac- Network, also known as “The “But she’s not. I mean, house, which is treated as a went to a high school that did to this report. CALENDAR E

WEDNESDAY, MARCH13, 2019 :: LATIMES.COM/CALENDAR SXSW FILM FESTIVAL Seeing a ‘nice’ star in a new light

MARY McNAMARA

Why did it have to be Felicity Huffman? You would think at this point we would be inured to revela- tions that even the “nicest” celebrities feel entitled to free passes — to events, gifting suites, in traffic court. But why did one of the “stars” of the college admissions scandal have to be Emmy winner Huffman? Tuesday was not a good day for parents. Those who did not allegedly pay a very high-priced and utterly unscrupulous admissions company to lie, cheat and steal so their kids could get into the college of their choice spent the day feeling outraged and, depending on the number of wait-lists endured or athletic schol- arships that never hap- pened, ripped off. Those parents who allegedly did spent the day in jail. Which may be the fairest Stephen Spillman For The Times thing to come out of the SHIA LABEOUF, left, and Zack Gottsagen premiered their film, “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” Saturday at the SXSW Film Festival. college admissions process in years. The Edge College & Career Network went above and beyond the tutoring and multiplepractice-test- taking typical of most private prep classes. According to federal prosecutors, He found a life raft owner William “Rick” Singer oversaw a full buffet of col- legiate chicanery. In some cases, school officials were bribed to mark certain A troubled Shia LaBeouf bonds with costar of Mark Twain fable students as super-athletes, often in sports the student didn’t even play. In others, students’ SAT or ACT test BY MARK OLSEN >>> AUSTIN, TEXAS —There are dramatic come as well-known for his headline-making behavior off- results were rigged, with storm clouds moving over the Texas state Capitol on a quiet screen as his impassioned performances on-screen, seeming proctors who provided the Sunday morning in Austin. A few blocks away, Shia LaBeouf to give so much of himself to a 33-year-old aspiring actor correct answers or simply impostors who took the test is on a sixth-floor patio overlooking the historic landmark. from Florida with Down syndrome. But Shia LaBeouf is any- in the student’s place. He holds tight onto the arm of Zack Gottsagen, his costar in thing but predicable. On Tuesday, Singer “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” and touches his forehead onto “The Peanut Butter Falcon,” the debut feature written pleaded guilty to money laundering, obstruction of Gottsagen’s shoulder. and directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, is some- justice, racketeering and As a photographer begins snapping pictures of the two, thing of a contemporary folk ballad, a modern-day Mark conspiracy to defraud the LaBeouf picks up energy, encouraging Gottsagen. LeBeouf Twain adventure fable set along the outer banks of North United States. Prosecutors also charged 50 people with asks, “Are you ready?” Carolina, amidretirement homes, blind pastors, crab fisher- being knowing participants. He grabs a phone from someone and pulls up an ’N Sync men, homemade liquor and a cobbled-together raft. One of them was Felicity track, and the two start to dance together. Briefly, they both In the film, Gottsagen plays a young man with Down syn- Huffman. She allegedly chose the seem unburdened, free. drome who is forced to live in a retirement home. Frustrated proctor-with-correct-an- “This is your moment,” LaBeouf says to Gottsagen. “We by his life there, he breaks out, going in search of his hero, a swers option. She and Lori Loughlin did it for this moment.” wrestler named the Salt Wa ter Redneck. Along the way he (Google her, non-“Full It may seem unusual to find a Hollywood star who has be- encounters a man who is himself also [See LaBeouf, E7] [See Huffman, E10] Red flags wave They embrace in preview of their Kiwi-ness dy film now on Netflix: Two The women behind BFFs run a service helping clients “consciously, forcibly, LACMA redo ‘Breaker Upperers’ and irreversibly uncouple” boost New Zealand from the partners they can’t bring themselves to dump. lections include Continental and working mothers. “I thought, ‘Who’s the As Old, New worlds and British art produced funniest person I know in from the Middle Ages to the By Jen Yamato New Zealand?’ ” said Van collide in overhaul, end of the19th century, while Beek last year at the South a current exhibit hints its American holdings con- For New Zealander com- by Southwest Film Festival, tinue to the start of World edy collaborators Madeleine where “The Breaker Upper- at future casualties. War II. Two big museum de- Sami and Jackie Van Beek, it ers” premiered. “And I rang partments have essentially all started with an idea, a Madeleine.” CHRISTOPHER KNIGHT collapsed into one. friendship, and one magical The two first met as teen- ART CRITIC Fitz Henry Lane’s icily ingredient: Celine Dion. agers at a comedy improv crisp view of majestic Van Beek was making competition when Sami was Without fanfare, the Los schooners, stilled in the set- coffee one morning when she 14 and Van Beek was 17. Both Angeles County Museum of ting sun of18 50s Boston Har- conjured the idea for “The came up in New Zealand’s Art has taken a momentous bor, is under the same cura- Breaker Upperers,” the comedy and theater scene, step. Separate curatorial di- torial umbrella as a painting duo’s homegrown hit come- [See ‘Breaker,’ E5] visions for American art and of the goddess Venus dis- for European painting and arming little Cupid by sculpture, established when Alessandro Allori, the prolif- the museum opened its ic 16th century Florentine A deity hides at Remembering Wilshire Boulevard doors Mannerist. the peak of art Petty’s ‘Best’ more than half a century A15th century German ago, are now united under a woodcarving of the Virgin Climb a hill of futons With a new box set, single department head. and child standing on a cres- at Blum & Poe to find the Heartbreakers Sound bizarre? It is. No cent moon, described in an Tsuyoshi Ozawa’s reflect on his death other museum of LACMA’s apocalyptic vision by the en- LACMA depictions of Jizo. E3 and legacy. E4 size and complexity does it. igmatic St. John, will hence- JOHN SINGLETON Copley’s portrait of Alexander Comics ...... E8-9 TV grid ...... E10 LACMA’s European col- [See LACMA, E6] Montgomerie is MIA in LACMA’s “Rome” exhibition. E10 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13 ,2019 LATIMES.COM/CALENDAR

Wednesday Prime-Time TV Sports News Movies (N) New Å ClosedCaptioning 8 pm 8:30 9 pm 9:30 10 pm10:30 11 pm CBS Survivor (TVPG)Aneliminat- TheWorld’sBest (TVPG)(Seasonfinale)The remaining acts News (N) Å ed castawayfaces those who perform; the winnersofthe solo music and group variety were blindsided. (N) Å categoriesarerevealed; the final four actsfaceoff.(N) Å NBC ChicagoMed (TV14) Å ChicagoFire (TV14) Å ChicagoP.D. (TV14) Å News (N) Å KTLA Riverdale (TV14) Jughead All American (TVPG)Spencer News (N) Å Sports Final News (N) Å questions his mom’s motives learns the real reason his (N) (10:45) Å forreturning. (N) Å father left.(N) Å ABC TheGoldbergs Schooled Modern Family Single Parents Whiskey Cavalier (TV14) Will News (N) Å (TVPG)A (TVPG)Lain- (TVPG)Jay (TVPG)An and Frankie continue to mother-son ey and Erica’s goes hiking encounterat clash; the team is sent to cooking show. high school to find abald the Bachelor Rome to preventaterrorist (N) Å reunion. (N) Å eagle.(N) Å mansion. (N) attack. (N) Å KCAL News (N) Å News (N) Å News (N) Å Sports Central 2BrokeGirls FOX Empire (TV14) Control of Star (TV14) After giving News (N) Å TheBig Bang Empirewithin reach for the birth, Starjeopardizes every- Theory (TV14) Lyons.(N) Å thing. (N) Å Å MyNt Dateline (TVPG) Å Dateline (TVPG) Å Seinfeld Å Seinfeld Å King of Queens KVCR Ethan Bortnick: Generations of Music (TVG) Å Whatthe World Needs Now: Words (TVG) Å PeterPaul… Å KCET Moments to Remember 1950s and ’60s.(7) Å GreatPerformances (TVG) Michael Bublé. Å Shetland Å UNI Jesús (N) Mi marido tiene más familia (N) Poramar sin ley (TV14) (N) Noticias KOCE Koko (7) Dennis DeYoung and Music of Styx (TVG) Å 70sSoul Superstars (TVG) Å KDOC Dateline (TV14) Å TheGoldbergs TheGoldbergs Family Guy Å Family Guy Å Seinfeld Å KLCS TheKetoDiet With Dr.JoshAxe (TVG) Å Poetry Å L.A. CountyBoard of SupervisorsMeeting A&E Zombie HouseFlipping (TVPG) Zombie HouseFlipping (TVPG) Tiny HouseNation (N) Tiny House AMC TheGodfather,PartII›››› (1974)AlPacino,RobertDuvall. (R) Å ANP Lone StarLaw:Uncuffed (TV14) Heated Confrontations.(N) Lone Star Law (TV14) Å Lone StarLaw BBC X-Men ››› (2000) Hugh Jackman.(PG-13) Å Terminator3:Riseofthe Machines (10:15) (R) BET Love &Basketball (5:35) FirstSunday ›› (2008) IceCube,KattWilliams.(PG-13) Å Bravo Housewives: NYC (TV14) Å Housewives: NYC (TV14) (N) Å Get aRoom: Carson&Thom Å WhatHappens CMT Last-Standing Last-Standing HereComes the Boom ›› (2012) Kevin James, Salma Hayek. (PG) Å CNN CNN Tonight: Don Lemon (N) AndersonCooper (TVPG) Å Cuomo Prime Time Å CNN Tonight Å Com South Park Å South Park Å South Park Å South Park Å South Park Å South Park Å Daily Show (N) Marcus Yam Los Angeles Times Disc Moonshiners (TV14) Å Moonshiners (TV14) Mark Rogers straightens out athief. Moonshiners SPOUSES Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy at last year’s Emmy Awards. Disn Sydney-Max Å Coop &CamiRaven’s Home Raven’sHome Sydney-Max Å Coop &CamiAndi Mack Å Huffman was charged Tuesday in connection with a college admissions fraud case. E! Botched (TV14) Å Botched (TV14) (N) Å Botched (TV14) Å Busy (N) Å ESPN NBABasketball (Live) (6:30) SportsCenter (N) Å SportsCenter (N) Å SportsCenter Food Guy’sGrocery Games (TVG) Guy’sGrocery Games (TVG) Guy’sGrocery Games (TVG) Guy’sGames FNC FoxNewsatNight (N) Å Tucker Carlson Tonight Å Hannity Å Ingraham Å Free Movie (6) Ratatouille ››› (2007) Patton Oswalt,Ian Holm. (G) Å The700 Club Seeing the ‘nice’ FX WhiteHouseDown ›› (2013) Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx. (PG-13) Å WhiteHouse Hall Love at First Dance (2018) Niall Matter,Becca Tobin. Å Love at First Bark (2017)Jana Kramer. Å HGTV Property Brothers (TVPG) Å Property Brothers (TVPG)(N) HouseHuntersHuntersInt. HouseHunters Hist Forged in Fire (TVPG) Å Forged in Fire (TVPG)(N) Å Forged in Fire:Cutting DeeperKnight Fight IFC National Lamp. Christmas National Lampoon’s European Vacation ›› (1985) (PG-13) Docu. Now! star in a new light Life CelebrityWifeSwap (TVPG) Project Runway All Stars (N) Å American BeautyStar (TVPG) (N) (10:03) Å MSN 11th Hour (N) Å TheRachelMaddowShow Å TheLast Word Å 11th Hour Å MTV Ridiculousness (TV14) (N) TheChallenge (TV14) (N) Å Catfish: TheTVShow Å Catfish Å [Huffman, from E1] she scored well by changing NGC Drugs, Inc. (TV14) Å Drugs, Inc.: TheFix (TV14) (N) Drugs, Inc.: TheFix (TV14) (N) Drugs, Inc. Å House” fans) led the head- Scandal spreads wrong answers to correct Nick SpongeBob Å SpongeBob Å SpongeBob Å SpongeBob Å TheOffice Å TheOffice Å Friends Å OWN If Loving YouIsWrong (TV14) If Loving YouIsWrong (TV14) If Loving YouIsWrong (TV14) Loving You lines. Loughlin’s husband, beyond academia ones. Å popular fashion designer Look, everyone knows Para Forrest Gump ›››› (1994) TomHanks,Robin Wright. (PG-13) Å Mossimo Giannulli, was also Actresses, CEOs and how insane the college Sund Criminal Minds (TV14) Å Criminal Minds (TV14) Å Criminal Minds (TV14) Å Ministry of Evil charged, though Huffman’s athletic departments are application process can get, Syfy TheFifth Element ››› (6:30) TheMagicians (TVMA)(N) Deadly Class (TVMA)(N) Å FifthElement husband, “Shameless” star snared in what is said to especially for parents who TBS Big Bang Å Big Bang Å Big Bang Å Big Bang Å Big Bang Å Full Frontal (N) Conan (N) Å William H. Macy, was not. cannot afford to live in areas be the largest college TCM Hawaii ››› (1966) Julie Andrews.(6:45) Å TheInn of the Sixth Happiness ››› (1958) (9:45) Å Huffman was not the admissions scam ever with good public schools or TLC My 600-Lb. Life (TVPG)(N) Family by the Ton (TV14) (N) My 600-Lb richest nor most powerful prosecuted. A1 send their kids to private person on the list, but she schools, parents unable to TNT Central Intelligence ›› (2016)DwayneJohnson. (PG-13) Å Drop the Mic Joker Wild (N) Intelligence Å was certainly the most provide legitimate tutors or To on Samurai Jack American DadAmerican DadBob’s BurgersBob’s BurgersFamily Guy Å Family Guy Å famous. Huffman almost 15 years take time from their jobs to Travel Mysteries at the Museum (N) Beyond the Unknown (N) Paranormal Caught on CameraParanormal Ca. And the most shocking. ago, we discovered we had help fill out the voluminous Tru Jokers Å Jokers Å Jokers Å Jokers Å I’mSorry (N) Inside Jokes Å Inside Jokes Å Look, we all know that daughters of the same age, application, parents who TV L Raymond Å Raymond Å Everybody LovesRaymond Å 21/2 Men 21/2 Men King of Queens the rich and famous are and she really did seem like really can’t pay for their kids USA Law&Order: SVU (TV14) Å Law&Order: SVU (TV14) Å Law&Order: SVU (TV14) Å Modern Family different. Their houses are every other working mother to take the test multiple VH1 Black Ink Crew (TV14) Å Black Ink Crew (TV14) (N) Black Ink Crew (TV14) Cartel Crew Å bigger, their clothes are Iknew. Even if she could times or the application fees WGN Cops (TV14) Cops (TVPG) Married ... With Married ... With Married ... With Married ... With HowIMet Å nicer, they never fly coach afford more help and spent to the 12 colleges the guid- Cine TheRing Two ›› (2005) Naomi Watts. (PG-13) Å It ››› (2017)Jaeden Lieberher.(9:50) and their kids go to schools abit more time on the red ance counselor recom- Encr Frozen ››› (2013) (7:14) Dodgeball: ATrue UnderdogStory ››› Joe Dirt › (2001) (10:35) like Crossroads or Harvard- carpet. mends. Å Å Westlake. “I am very cognizant of For people like Huffman EPIX Arrival ››› (2016) AmyAdams,JeremyRenner.(PG-13) Thelma &Louise ››› (1991) (R) Å This doesn’t make them the shelf life of the spot- and Macy? Please. Imagine HBO Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom ›› (2018) Chris Pratt. Owen High Mainte- Crashing Pacific Rim Up- nance (10:15) (10:45) rising (11:15) bad people or an alien race; light,” she told me then. “If I the references that kid had. and Clairetry to save the dinosaurs. (PG-13) Å money and fame are often start feeling I was anointed, The fawning tour guides. Show HowtoLose aGuy in 10 Days ›› (2003) Kate Hudson. Å SMILF (TVMA) TheBack-up Plan › (2010) Å well-earned, and for years all I have to do is remember The possibility of large Starz Jurassic Park III (2001) (7:24) Love Actually ››› (2003) Hugh Grant, LauraLinney. (R) Å Huffman seemed proof of how many times I’ve been donations and naming TMC Tombstone ››› (1993) Kurt Russell, ValKilmer.(R) Å Stargate ›› (1994)KurtRussell. (10:10) Å that. She was a serious fired.” opportunities. character actor, and though She was very convincing, But fame and fortune TV HIGHLIGHTS she came to Hollywood via and it might even have been were not, apparently, David Mamet at the height true. Even as her fame grew, enough. Huffman allegedly SERIES The Doctors A road-rage in- of his powers (which is a she maintained a down-to- had to pay for someone to cident; a dead rattle- pretty good way to come to earth image, especially guarantee a slot that should The Goldbergs Beverly snake; a toddler’s antics Hollywood), many people when it came to mother- have gone to a student who (Wendi McLendon-Cov- are caught on a nanny felt the need to root for her. hood. After “Desperate maybe actually earned it. ey) and Adam (Sean Gi- cam. (N) 11 a.m. KCOP ambrone) team up to do a She was so good, people Housewives” ended, she So much for the woman The Talk Fran Drescher. (N) mother-son cooking would say, in “Sports started the website so many of us rooted for over 1p.m. KCBS Night,” in “Magnolia,” in whattheflicka.com, where the years, most lately in show. 8 p.m. ABC Steve A self-taught teen pia- “Frasier,” for God’s sake, women — some famous, “American Crime,” which is Empire The family tries to nist born with four fingers but for years she seemed some not — could share nauseatingly funny. The prove Lucious (Terrence performs; Tone Bell destined to play the best their experiences and seek splendid actor who knows Howard) and Becky’s (“Fam”). (N) 2 p.m. KNBC friend or older sister. advice. how hard it is to balance (Gabourey Sidibe) inno- Then “Desperate House- “There’s no conversation work and family doesn’t live cence in the data mining Rachael Ray Kristen Bell wives” and “Transamerica” for parenting, no one to say here, at least not anymore. scandal. Taraji P. Henson (“Frozen II”) and Dax made her a big star. But still ‘it’s hard’ to,” she told Mash- Instead, the curtain was also stars. 8 p.m. Fox Shepard. (N) 2 p.m. KTTV Wilford Harewood Fox she seemed normal, which able in 2013, adding that pulled back to reveal some- Schooled Lainey (AJ The Ellen DeGeneres Show was even more endearing. motherhood “is a heroic one so used to wealth and Michalka) and Erica ANEW BABY is wel- Lupita Nyong’o (“Us”); She and Macy have been profession.” privilege that it seemed (Hayley Orrantia) attend comed on Fox’s “Star.” Chaka Khan performs. together forever, and mar- Uh-huh. Tell it to the acceptable to pay someone their high school reunion With Luke James. (N) 3 p.m. KNBC ried for 22 years. They jury, Felicity. to cheat for her daughter so in this new episode of the The Dr. Oz Show Adults and talked about their kids the According to prose- she could get exactly what comedy spinoff. 8:30 p.m. Knight Fight The first sea- allergy; barbecue sauce; way everyone talks about cutors, Huffman knew what she wanted. ABC son of this armored com- supermarket chicken la- their kids — equal measure she was paying for, which Ayoung woman who not bat competition ends with bels. (N) 3 p.m. KTTV The World’s Best The re- adoration and exhaustion, included getting extended even the most debt-laden achampionship that maining acts compete, The Daily Show: Trevor No- with some charming bewil- time for her daughter to student at the smallest opens with a seven-man then the winners of the ah Karamo Brown. (N) 11 derment on the side. take the test and providing community college can grand meleebefore mov- solo music and group vari- p.m. Comedy Central When I interviewed aproctor who would ensure possibly envy now. ing to the final rounds. ety categories are re- Conan Kathy Bates. (N) 11 11 :05 p.m. History vealed beforethe final four p.m. TBS acts face off and one is MOVIES The Tonight Show Starring crowned the winner in the Jimmy Fallon Mark Ruf- Will scandal hurt shows? season finale of the talent Puzzle (2018 ) 10 :42 a.m. falo; Jim Jefferies; Nor- competition. 9 p.m. CBS Starz mani and 6lackperform. All American Spencer The BFG (2016 ) 11 :30 AM (N) 11 :34 p.m. KNBC court records. (Daniel Ezra) learns the Syfy The Late Show: Stephen Charges against Lori “I’m the outlier in this real reason his father Frozen (2013 ) 7:14 p.m. En- Colbert Patricia Ar- Loughlin and Felicity thing,” he said when dis- (Chad L. Coleman) left. 9 core quette; Ian McShane; cussing his older daughter p.m. KTLA Strand of Oaks, Jason Is- Huffman call their Sofia’s college plans in a re- Modern Family Mitch (Jes- TALK SHOWS bell and Amanda Shires cent interviewwith Parade perform. (N) 11 :35 p.m. projects into question. se Tyler Ferguson), Cam CBS This Morning (N) 7 magazine. “We’re right now KCBS (Eric Stonestreet) and a.m. KCBS in the thick of college appli- Phil (Ty Burrell) crash Jimmy Kimmel Live Matt By Ashley Lee Today Karlie Kloss; sports- cation time, which is so Jay’s (Ed O’Neill) annual LeBlanc; Winston Duke; caster Mike Tirico; Adam stressful. I am voting that hiking trip to find abald Tomberlin performs. (N) Scott; golfer Justin Thom- Actresses Felicity Huff- once she gets accepted, she eagle. 9 p.m. ABC 11 :35 p.m. KABC man and Lori Loughlin were maybe takes a year off. God as; Dr. Mehmet Oz. (N) 7 Star After giving birth, Star Amanpour and Company among the dozens indicted doesn’t let you be 18 twice. a.m. KNBC (Jude Demorest) jeopar- (N) 12:30 a.m. KOCE by federal prosecutors Tues- “I think this is an oppor- dizes everything she Good Morning America day in connection with an tunity for her,” he added. The Late Late Show With worked for. Brittany Colton Underwood; Ben elaborate scheme aimed at “But it’s just my opinion, and James Corden Sharon O’Grady, Ryan Des- Stiller; Keira Knightley; a getting students into elite Chris Pizzello Invision/AP we’ll see what she wants to Osbourne; Sam Rich- tinyand Luke James also performance from Be colleges. LORI LOUGHLIN was do, what Felicity thinks and ardson; Ryan Conner. (N) star in this new episode of More Chill. (N) 7 a.m. The news suddenly calls one of dozens indicted in how the chips fall.” 12:37 a.m. KCBS the drama. 9 p.m. Fox KABC into question the fate of a college bribery scandal. Meanwhile, Loughlin has Good Day L.A. Dr. Noelle Late Night With Seth Mey- Single Parents “The Bach- Huffman and Loughlin’s re- not been arrested, but she is Reid (“Married to Medi- ers Ricky Gervais; Asia elor’s” Chris Harrison spective upcoming projects Netflix comedy film “Other- being sought by authorities, cine”); Jude Demorest Kate Dillon; James Bay shares his wisdom with for Netflix and the Hallmark hood,” which is scheduled to according to FBI spokes- (“Star”); race car driver performs; Allison Miller Poppy (Kimrie Lewis) and Channel, with representa- premiere April 26. woman Laura Eimiller. Kurt Busch; Dr. Nita performs. (N) 12:37 a.m. Angie (Leighton tives for both companies not She also portrays prose- Loughlin is scheduled to Landry (“The Doctors”). KNBC Meester). 9:30 p.m. ABC yet publicly commenting on cutor Linda Fairstein in reprise her role as Rebecca (N) 7 a.m. KTTV the matter. “When They See Us,” Ava Katsopolis in the fifth and fi- Whiskey Cavalier Will SPORTS Live With Kelly and Ryan Huffman was arrested DuVernay’s miniseries re- nal season of “Fuller House” (Scott Foley) and Frankie Keira Knightley (“The College Basketball ACC and is in custody in Los An- counting the Central Park (Netflix’s successful reboot (Lauren Cohan) continue Aftermath”); Colton Tournament: Clemson geles, along with 11 others. Five case in 19 90. That will of the ABC sitcom “Full to clash, and that may Underwood (“The Bache- versus NC State, 9 a.m. Her TV credits include premiere on the platform House”), which the stream- jeopardize a mission to lor”). (N) 9 a.m. KABC ESPN; ACC Tournament: the ABC series “Desperate May 31. Huffman also re- ing giant will release this fall. prevent a terrorist attack TBA versus Virginia Tech, The View Jay Leno; Colton Housewives” and “American cently wrapped production She is also part of the in Rome. 10 p.m. ABC 11 a.m. ESPN; ACC Tour- Underwood (“The Bache- Crime.” She also runs an ad- on the indie flick “Tammy’s casts of the Hallmark Chan- I’m Sorry Andrea (Andrea nament: TBA versus lor”). (N) 10 a.m. KABC vice-for-mothers site called Always Dying.” Representa- nel series “When Calls the Savage) offers to host a Louisville, 4 p.m. ESPN2; What the Flicka? tives for Huffman and Net- Heart,” which is now airing memorial service for her The Wendy Williams Show Big East Tournament: The charges against flix did not respond to The its sixth season, and “Ga- great uncle and learns Ryan Destiny (“Star”). Butler versus Providence, Huffman come just weeks Times’ request for com- rage Sale Mystery,” which is some surprising informa- (N) 10 a.m. KTTV 4p.m. FS1; ACC Tourna- before a couple of her proj- ment. in production. Representa- tion in the season finale of The Real Cynthia Bailey ment: TBA versus Syra- ects are set to debut. Along Huffman’s husband, fel- tives for Loughlin and Hall- the raunchy comedy. Alli- (“The Real Housewives of cuse, 6 p.m. ESPN2; Big with Patricia Arquette and low actor and “Shameless” mark did not respond to The son Tolman, Tom Everett Atlanta”); Yvette Nicole East Tournament: Angela Bassett, she is part of star William H. Macy, was Times’ request for com- Scott and Olive Petrucci Brown. (N)11 a.m. KTTV;1 DePaul versus St. John’s, the ensemble cast of the not indicted or named in ment. also star.10 p.m. TRU p.m. KCOP 6:30 p.m. FS1