06-18-2008, 06:13 AM
The Times has today made its archive of newspapers up to 1985 available online. Registration is simple and free - you will need to register.
What do we find on 4 February 1975?
At last, a move to drive out the pedlars of bogus degrees
"Two Americans-Dr John Bear and Dr James Campbell- sold degrees from West Hill House, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. They described themselves as two men of unimpeachable academic credentials but said they needed £25,000 to start a new college. "So we have decided to sell honorary doctorates to raise the money to start our school. We might have chosen to sell magazines, or flowering shrubs or vitamins. But we are selling honorary doctorates, very beautiful and utterly meaningless pieces of paper." Just one advertisement in an American paper sold 10,000 dollars worth of degrees at the end of 1972, they said."
And you all thought they were doing it for charity!
What do we find on 4 February 1975?
At last, a move to drive out the pedlars of bogus degrees
"Two Americans-Dr John Bear and Dr James Campbell- sold degrees from West Hill House, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. They described themselves as two men of unimpeachable academic credentials but said they needed £25,000 to start a new college. "So we have decided to sell honorary doctorates to raise the money to start our school. We might have chosen to sell magazines, or flowering shrubs or vitamins. But we are selling honorary doctorates, very beautiful and utterly meaningless pieces of paper." Just one advertisement in an American paper sold 10,000 dollars worth of degrees at the end of 1972, they said."
And you all thought they were doing it for charity!