Emir Mohammed Exposed! (Was: "Re: TRIALS")
Steve Levicoff
> The truth about TRIALS...
> (http://www.angelfire.com/de/trials/index.html &
> http://www.angelfire.com/mo/EmirMohammed/Trials.html)
Gee, I can't wait for this one . . .
> I had always intended to start a small DE school that was
> entirely open and honest about its operations... and TRIALS
> was my first attempt to do so... however, even before I got
> anything off the ground, there seemed like too many road
> blocks in my way...
Right, of course. What could be better than a "small DE school
that was entirely open and honest" *and* started by someone who
had a reputation as an anti-mill activist with a reputation he
could trade on? How conveeeeeeenient.
> Indeed, I thought the idea for the "school" was dead, until
> Steve gave it some publicity here!!... I'm thinking now, I
> might revive the idea once I get back to Canada... I'm in
> Trinidad now, on vacation... (don't quite have a yacht yet
> like Pellar though, j/k)...
Truly, Emir is showing the most important quality of a potential
degree mill operator: In the fact of exposure, simply go ahead
with the plan.
> Just for everyone's information, I never advertisied the
> school, there are no students, there is no revenue being
> generated from it... it's just there... Steve must be the
> evil genius Descartes talked about, cause I don't know how
> the hell he managed to find it...
This reminds me of the story of Larry Pahl, founder of Lifegate
College in Galesburg, Illinois, who ordered a print copy of my
book "Name It & Frame It" a few years back. We were keyed into
spotting red flags in NIFI orders since many degree mills had
ordered the book, and when Larry's order came in it brought
Lifegate to my attention. Prior to the next edition coming out,
I informed Larry that I would be profiling the school (the
profile appears in chapter 12 of "NIFI," full-text surfable
through my home page). Upon learning that the information would
appear in the book, Larry wrote to me and stated, "By the way,
the brochure I sent about the college, which you may be using in
your article, was largely a desktop publishing assignment. We
have never enrolled any students in the school described there!"
However, Larry paid for the book with a check from the bank
account of Lifegate College. Since an imaginary school designed
as a "desktop publishing assignment" would hardly have an active
checking account, we may assume that Larry was full of shit.
Now, we have Emir telling us that his new degree mill is merely
"an idea." Nonsense. Emir has created a fake school in the
past, Oxford Open University, which has been cited in major
publications (including the respected Chronicle of Higher
Educaion). He used phony names, developed phony programs, and at
the conclusion of the school's web page, announced that it was a
fraud that he had created to illustrate how easy it is to create
a phony school.
In his new venture, however, he used his own name, announced that
he was the star of the show, did not give any indication that the
school is not real, stated that it is *already* incorporated in
the State of Delaware, and did not give any indication that the
school is merely "an idea." In other words, he has already
created a school, its identity, its programs, its curricula, and
he has gotten caught.
> Incidentally, I didn't expect anyone on here to actually
> support me... huh... guess I was wrong (a first for sure)...
> :)
Duhhhhhhhhhhhh . . .
> Regards,
> Emir A. Mohammed...
Regards? I'm sure that is one that everyone will pick up on and
wonder, what happened to Emir's old standard, "Laters?"
Now, let's look at TRIALS and give it a proper pre-mortem
dissection . . .
(Bracketed text is directly from TRIALS' web page on Emir's
site.)
_____
|
| TRIALS
| Taft Research Institute for Advanced Legal Studies
|_____
Well, at least the dude knows how to pull off an acronym.
_____
|
| About the Institute
| -------------------
| The Institute's objective is to provide high-quality graduate
| legal education through the Internet. The Taft Research
| Institute for Advanced Legal Studies, LLC is registered and
| incorporated in Delaware (US) and legally grants degrees
| under its corporate charter.
|_____
There is an old expression to the effect that a little knowledge
about medicine can be worse than no knowledge at all. Obviously,
the same thing holds true about law. Emir has allegedly just
earned, by distance, an LL.M. from the University of Strathclyde.
This gives him a *little* knowledge about the law, but obviously
not enough for him to know (or at least admit in public) that
TRIALS does not earn the right to grant degrees under a corporate
charter.
Moreover, "charter" is not an American term. U.S. corporations
are registered with a particular state corporation bureau, and
their primary organizational document is called their Articles of
Incorporation. "Charter" is a British term and irrelevant, as is
the term "LLC."
Finally, no entity is authorized to grant degrees through a
corporate registration in Delaware. That authorization must come
through the Delaware Department of Education, which is hardly
about to authorize Emir to grant degrees.
_____
|
| Degrees Offered
| ---------------
| As the Institute is rather novel - both in terms of age and
| uniqueness in being devoted entirely to distance legal
| education - we offer the following at this time:
|
| LLM (Masters in Law) in Information Technology Law - for law
| graduates
|
| MA (Master of Arts) in Information Technology Law - for
| suitably qualified non-law graduates
|
| MPhil (Master of Philosophy) in Information Technology Law
|
| Doctorates (Phd, DJur and DPhil) may be offered in the
| future.
|_____
TRIALS is hardly novel at all; it is merely another degree mill
started by an amateur. Moreover, it is amusing that Emir would
grant the LL.M. only to law graduates. While the LL.M. degree
presupposes a previously earned LL.B. or J.D. (at least in the
United States), Emir pursued his own LL.M. from Strathclyde
without previously earning a law degree himself - Emir's sole
previous credential was a bachelor's degree from the University
of Western Ontario.
As for the notion that doctorate degrees "may be offered in the
future," Emir obviously has no conception of what constitutes a
doctorate. (After all, he does not have one himself.) The
thought that he might especially grant a Ph.D. is a joke
considering the make-up of his so-called master's degrees
(below).
Finally, one does not graduate from a master's program and
immediately begin teaching in a master's program, let alone
establishing such a program on his own. (Traditionally, a
teacher should be at least one degree level *higher* than the
students.) Emir just took similar courses through Strathclyde,
and now purports to be expert enough to teach the same
courses. But it's not that simple, campers - being able to
teach a subject demands a far more reaching knowledge of both
the direct subjects and peripheral learning areas, significant
research, and at the higher education level, having been
published in the field. Except for the basic degree (yet
without a previously earned law degree), Emir has the
proverbial "none of the above." He is, quite clearly, not even
qualified to teach these subjects let alone grant degrees in
them.
_____
|
| Degree Requirements
| -------------------
|
| LLM and MA degrees - both have indentical curricula
|
| Intellectual Property Law & the Internet
| Privacy & Technology Law
| Two self-designed research courses - intended so that
| students from various geographic locations and backgrounds
| may feel free to pursue their own personal and/or
| professional interests without the rigid conformity of a
| 'nationalistic' curriculum. Such courses must first be
| approved by the Director.
| Thesis - 15,000-20,000 words
|
| Upcoming Trimester Schedule
| ---------------------------
| Intellectual Property
| July 26th - October 26th (1999)
| November 26th - February 26th (2000)
| March 26th - June 26th (2000)
| Privacy and Technology Law
| July 26th - October 26th (1999)
| November 26th - February 26th (2000)
| March 26th - June 26th (2000)
|_____
Let's see if I understand this . . . Emir is offering a master's
degree with only four courses and a thesis? That's not a degree,
it's a joke.
_____
|
| Self-designed research courses may begin at any time, upon
| Director's approval. The length of time spent on a self-
| designed course may also vary. Both of the taught courses for
| these degrees have even more rigorous curricula than the
| Director's identical courses taught at UCLA (Extension). All
| modules (including self-designed ones) require the production
| of a 4000-5000 word paper.
|_____
This would never cut it at *any* legitimate school - a subjective
standard applied by one person for a course's length and content.
What makes it more dangerous, however, is that Emir is trading
upon his alleged role at UCLA Extension. I'll leave it to our
other "investigators," but I have a feeling that there's
something quite fishy about Emir's allaged connection with UCLA.
_____
|
| MPhil is a purely research based degree for students who
| either have significant experience in the IT law field and/or
| who wish a narrower course of study to truly develop their
| expertise in a subject. A thesis of 30,000-40,000 words is
| the only administrative requirement for this degree.
| Academically, we require continuous contact with the Director
| and a high standard (i.e. publishable quality) for the
| finished work.
|_____
Hey, this is even better than his LL.M. and M.A. - a degree based
*solely* on a thesis. That's more than a joke, it's a farce.
_____
|
| Fees and Financial Information
| ------------------------------
| The goal of the Institute is to make graduate legal education
| affordable and accessible to all of its students. Students
| may take as little as 12 months or as much as 21 months to
| complete their course of study. Extensions beyond the 21
| month period will usually be granted by the Director if such
| an application is made in a timely manner and on acceptable
| grounds.
|
| The Fees are as follows:
|
| Application fee: waived until further notice (applicants are
| encouraged to apply on-line and submit any supporting
| documentation - like transcripts - through the post).
|
| Cost for degree program: $3000 (US) - roughly $4000 (Cdn) or
| 1600/1700 pounds. All fees are to be paid in US however.
| Special tuition payment plans can be arranged at the
| student's request.
|
| Scholarships: The Institute is prepared to offer scholarships
| ranging from $500 up to $1000 (US) for promising applicants
| who demonstrate financial need.
|_____
Now, are you with me, campers? Let's say that Emir gets only ten
students from his little venture. That's $30,000 right there.
If he gets 100 students, that's $300,000. Even if he were to
offer every student the maximum scholarship, that's a cool
$200,000. And you wonder what his motivation might be?
_____
|
| Message from the Director
| -------------------------
| Hello, my name is Emir A. Mohammed, LL.M., I am the founder
| and director of the Taft Research Institute for Advanced
| Legal Studies. I will be your course supervisor, mentor and
| instructor for the Institute's degrees in Information
| Technology Law. My LLM is in Information Technology and
| Telecommunications Law and am an expert on most fields
| therein.
|_____
How conveeeeeenient. Course supervisor, mentor, and instructor,
as well as founder, chief cook, and bottle washer. In other
words, Emir is a one-man band who is starting a one-man show.
Which is yet another reason that *no* accredited school will
recognize a TRIALS degree as legitimate.
_____
|
| As noted earlier, I am an instructor with UCLA (Extension)
| and teach both Intellectual Property and Internet Privacy Law
| with them.
|_____
And he's obviously trading off on that fact. Let's get real,
folks - UCLA Extension is not the same as UCLA proper. In the
same way that public school districts run adult evening schools,
colleges and universities offer continuing education courses.
And *anyone* can teach them, with or without a degree, as long as
they can pull the course off. No doubt that Emir *can* pull
these courses off; after all, he just took them himself through
Strathclyde. But that hardly makes him an expert in the field,
and certainly does not put him in a position in which he is
qualified to grant degrees, especially as a one-man band.
_____
|
| For those of you unfamiliar with my work in distance
| education, I am a well-known and respected authority on
| alerting students to diploma mills and helping then find
| quality schools.
|_____
Well, time for the hip-high boots. Emir is hardly a "well-known
and respected authority." He is certainly not in the league of
John Bear, Marcie Thorson, or even me. Nor is his authority as
esteblished as that of persons such as Dennis Huber or Chip
White. In fact, his recent sojourn with Strathclyde was his
first involvement with any distance program as a student, and he
hasn't even had time to ripen from that.
But what really stinks here is that Emir is attempting to trade
off on the fact that he has occasionally spoken out against
degree mills. The implication is that he would never, himself,
start a degree mill. Nonsense - he has done just that.
_____
|
| My web-site - the Distance Ed. for Dummies Homepage - has
| been featured in the Washington Post, the Network for Ontario
| Distance Educators and in the Chronicle of Higher Education,
| among others.
|_____
Featured? His web site has been *mentioned* in these
publications, but I would hardly call the site *featured*. And,
as it turns out, his creation of an imaginary degree mill in the
past was merely a dry run for the real degree mill that he has
come up with now.
_____
|
| Even though the Institute can legally grant degrees under its
| corporate charter, as a sign of my personal commitment to
| quality in distance education we will be seeking further
| accreditation from both the Open Learning and Distance
| Learning Quality Council (UK) and the Distance Education and
| Training Council (US). Other than quality of work and
| instruction, both Councils have other requirements that will
| be fulfilled as time passes - such as a minimum number of
| graduates and/or a certain number of years in operation.
|_____
Remember, the Institute can *not* legally grant degrees under its
corporate registration, and it does not have a corporate charter
in Delaware at all. Degrees can only be granted with the
approval of a state department of education unless the school is
located in a state with a non-profit or religious exemption from
licensure, which Delaware does not have. In other words, Emir
can not legally grant degrees.
_____
|
| Indeed, my vision for the Institute includes offering
| advanced degrees in a variety of legal disciplines, with
| scholars worldwide assisting in the teaching.
|_____
This is bullshit, period. Meaningless hype by a rank amateur who
just earned a mickey-mouse degree and thinks he has enough
knowledge to grant degrees himself.
_____
|
| As Director I would like to make it clear to all applicants
| that we do not discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual
| identity and orientation, age, religous affiliation (or lack
| thereof), political views, ethnicity, national identity,
| disability, or on any other irrelevant grounds.
|_____
Right, and on behalf of my colleagues in the gay and lesbian
community, I would like to thank Emir for establishing a policy
that will rip everyone off equally.
_____
|
| I trust you will find the Institute to be of high quality and
| academic rigour and I look forward to working with you in the
| upcoming trimester. Please do not hesitate to contact me with
| any questions, concerns or comments.
|
| Sincerely,
| Emir A. Mohammed
|_____
Well, at least he came off as a charming if naive kid when he
used to write "Laters . . ."
As for the "high quality and academic rigour," nonsense - the
Institute is a joke. And, for better or worse, it will follow
Emir wherever he goes in his professional life. Yes, campers,
years from now, even if Emir earns a more respectable master's or
even doctoral degree, someday someone will uncover this farce and
use it against him.
In the meantime, I think we can say that Emir has lost any
credibility that he might have had with the newsgroup, whether as
an individual or as a member of the Gang of Six. Readers should
keep in mind that the original Gang of Six was "appointed" by Les
Snell, owner of Monticello University, itself a degree mill. The
other members are John Bear, Dennis Huber, Tom Nixon, Chip White,
and me. Virtually all of us have taken a strong stand in favor
of regionally accredited programs. (When John speaks about
selected unaccredited programs, he words his opinions very
carefully.) Only Emir has blatantly endorsed unaccredited
programs, especially those based in Europe (which has as high a
proportion of degree mills as the U.S.), and I have always
questioned whether Emir should be considered a G-6 member. With
his latest venture, my doubts have merely been confirmed, and I
am pleased to establish my distance from his activities.
,-~~-.___.
/ | ' \
( ) 0
\_/-, ,----'
==== //
/ \-'~; /~~~(O)
/ __/~| / |
=( _____| (_________|
-----------------------------------
Steve Levicoff
levi...@ix.netcom.com
http://members.tripod.com/~levicoff
-----------------------------------
pete
In the past you've mentioned (and defended) that Emir Mohammed was
your DistEd underling even to the point of telling people to "kindly
don't fuck with our protegé." We can only hope that he is not typical
of your students or advisees :)
Pete
Bill Gossett
> Moreover, "charter" is not an American term. U.S. corporations
> are registered with a particular state corporation bureau, and
> their primary organizational document is called their Articles of
> Incorporation. "Charter" is a British term and irrelevant, as is
> the term "LLC."
A small, and probably irrelevant, point: forming a limited liability
company in my state (Arkansas) is one of many options. The use of "LLC",
or another designator conveying the same information, is required.
Bill Gossett
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
wdh...@my-deja.com
Do not underestimate the power of the Dark Side. The young apprentice
seems to have been seduced by the Dark Side of the Schwartz.
--
Wm. Dennis Huber
http://members.tripod.com/WDHuber/
I reserve the right to publicly disclose private
e-mail received in response to this post.
Steve Levicoff
>In the past you've mentioned (and defended) that Emir Mohammed was
>your DistEd underling even to the point of telling people to "kindly
>don't fuck with our protegé." We can only hope that he is not typical
>of your students or advisees :)
>Pete
Actually, I have never referred to Emir as a protegé, although I have
stated that, in my opinion, he had the potential to one day be more of
an expert in distance education. That kind of expertise comes only
through both academic and professional development. However, at the
same time, I have always tempered any endorsement of Emir due to his
consistent endorsement of European programs, some of which, IMO, were
somewhat questionable.
Nonetheless, this is the Internet, and we are all accountable for what
we post (whether ona newsgroup, web site, or any other millieu). I
hold Emir as accountable as I trust others hold me, especially when
there are people out in the real world that could be significantly
impacted by the material under discussion.
Larry McQueary
to this one. Pete's snippet was a direct quote, which can
be reviewed here:
http://x29.deja.com/getdoc.xp?AN=372672182
Sorry, but it *is* kind of humorous, in a sense. The Paduan
Jedi has crossed over to the Dark Side, despite the careful
mentoring of Obi Wan Levicoff.
;-)
Larry
Steve Levicoff <levi...@ix.netcom.com> wrote, in relevant,
although ill-remembered, part:
[ snip ]
> Actually, I have never referred to Emir as a protegé,
although I have
[ snip ]
procon...@my-deja.com
credentials! LOL. :)
Alex
> http://x29.deja.com/getdoc.xp?AN=372672182
>
> Sorry, but it *is* kind of humorous, in a sense. The Paduan
> Jedi has crossed over to the Dark Side, despite the careful
> mentoring of Obi Wan Levicoff.
>
> ;-)
>
> Larry
>
Pete
(a small point, I know) the quote below is directly from one of your
posts. Jokingly maybe, but the post expressed conviction and
confidence in his potential.
More to the point, I wholeheartedly agree with you regarding
accountability in what we put on the Internet as well as suspect
programs overseas.
Pete
>"kindly don't [expletive] with our protegé."
>>Actually, I have never referred to Emir as a protegé, although I have
Steve Levicoff
>Steve Levicoff wrote:
>
>
>> Moreover, "charter" is not an American term. U.S. corporations
>> are registered with a particular state corporation bureau, and
>> their primary organizational document is called their Articles of
>> Incorporation. "Charter" is a British term and irrelevant, as is
>> the term "LLC."
>
>A small, and probably irrelevant, point: forming a limited liability
>company in my state (Arkansas) is one of many options. The use of
>"LLC", or another designator conveying the same information, is
>required.
>
>Bill Gossett
Point well taken; I stand corrected.
In most states, of course, one limits his or her liability through a
ganeral corporation (designated "Inc."), which normally protects the
individual from liability unless one can "pierce the corporate veil."
Perhaps what Emir does not reailze, however, is that when you have a
one-man show, and when that man holds every conceivable role in both
the corporate structure *and* the institution itself (vis-a-vis the
academic roles), it would probably quite easy to pierce the corporate
veil, especially when one is claiming to use the corporate registration
in the place of degree-granting authority.
Steve Levicoff
>Steve, I wouldn't be a good nitpicker if I didn't hold you
>to this one. Pete's snippet was a direct quote, which can
>be reviewed here:
>
>http://x29.deja.com/getdoc.xp?AN=372672182
>
>Sorry, but it *is* kind of humorous, in a sense. The Paduan
>Jedi has crossed over to the Dark Side, despite the careful
>mentoring of Obi Wan Levicoff.
Good cite, Larry - I stand corrected. If I remember correctly, Emir
*was* fairly new at the time, and yes, I did feel it was appropriate to
defend him from attack.
However, Emir is a big boy now, touting his sudden ability to grant
master's degrees (although just having received his own, and a
questionable one at that, at least by American standards).
As for "Paduan Jedi" (I love it!), perhaps it would be better to think
of him as a Prodigal Son. He has obviously split the roost; whether he
returns in a spirit of repentance remains to be seen. In the meantime,
the old saying, "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen"
certainly applies to Emir as much as anyone else.
http://x29.deja.com/getdoc.xp?AN=372672182
Steve Levicoff
>Emir may not have been your very own pet rock (or Frankenstein), but
>(a small point, I know) the quote below is directly from one of your
>posts. Jokingly maybe, but the post expressed conviction and
>confidence in his potential.
>
>More to the point, I wholeheartedly agree with you regarding
>accountability in what we put on the Internet as well as suspect
>programs overseas.
>
>Pete
As noted in a response to Larry's post, you are quite right - I did
write this.
At the time, we thought of Emir as a fairly young undergraduate
student. One of only two active participants in the newsgroup at the
time from Ontario (the other one was Jonathan Whatley), Emir had a
couple of years on Jonathan chronologically, although he came off as
much younger than Jonathan. However, we tended to credit that to
language considerations to some degree.
Nonetheless, it is fairly evident that, for better or worse, Emir has
grown up. As such, he can now be treated like any other sleazy degree
mill operator.
(Yeah, I actually say that in jest to some degree. Despite his
grievous sin, I still like the guy to some degree.)
JMcAulay
Steve Levicoff wrote in message <7mstbf$i...@dfw-ixnews13.ix.netcom.com>
among other things:
> | Doctorates (Phd, DJur and DPhil) may be offered in the
> | future.
Aha, perhaps I have found the key. Or at least *A* key. Please observe
that Emir does not plan to offer the PhD, but rather the "Phd." As we all
know degrees are case sensitive, the Phd is, perhaps, the degree of
"Philodendron," of which Larry and I had recent correspondence.
>TRIALS is hardly novel at all; it is merely another degree mill
>started by an amateur.
Rumson, on the other hand, was a degree mill started by a *professional*.
Some might even remember my comments about Steve's infamous "Rumson" (great
edifice pic, Steve) in which I noted that Steve might even have been serious
about starting such a place. My tongue was, however, firmly implanted in
my cheek, such that it would have taken a crowbar to displace it. But
Rumson did not make any specific claims re government authority,
degree-granting or otherwise. Smoke and mirrors, that's all.
On the other hand, Emir Mohammed has endeavoured to convince readers that
somehow, the State of Delaware looks with favor on TRIALS' ability to award
degrees. [Somehow, with the thought of smoke wafting around in my head, I
am reminded of Carlill vs Carbolic Smoke Ball Company.]
It also appears that this just ain't so. This sucks. Emir, how about
letting us in on the secret? I would dearly love to know how you get to
award degrees in the State of Delaware with so little difficulty. Arizona,
maybe. Delaware, I don't think so.
>Hey, this is even better than his LL.M. and M.A. - a degree based
>*solely* on a thesis. That's more than a joke, it's a farce.
Well, Steve, that's what the University of South Africa awards: a research
Doctorate based solely on a Thesis. However, what we in North America tend
to call a "Dissertation" is in South Africa called a "Thesis." And vice
versa. Maybe this tiny part of his concept, at least, isn't too
ridiculous.
>I have a feeling that there's something quite fishy about
>Emir's allaged connection with UCLA.
I do recall that I was eating a tuna sandwich when I first noticed his name
in the UCLA extension catalog. Perhaps you have something there.
>And he's obviously trading off on that fact. Let's get real,
>folks - UCLA Extension is not the same as UCLA proper. In the
>same way that public school districts run adult evening schools,
>colleges and universities offer continuing education courses.
>And *anyone* can teach them, with or without a degree, as long as
>they can pull the course off.
Not out here. California requires a Bachelor's degree as a minimum to
teach in a public adult school, evening or not. Likewise, UCLA Extension
instructors must hold, as a minimum, either a Master's degree in a field
relevant to the one taught, *or* other unique qualifications. This means
that a person with a BS or BA who is licensed as a Real Estate Broker could
teach a course in real estate.
> | Even though the Institute can legally grant degrees under its
> | corporate charter
Golly whiz, folks, a great idea! How about a "Corporate Charter" that has
hidden in its bowels somewhere the authority to evade taxes! And if the
prosecutors ever complain, just tell 'em, "Hey, my Corporate Charter
authorizes me to do that, *legally*, you squatheads! So quit buggin' me,
willya?"
Good Doctor Levicoff later comments regarding one of Emir's statements:
>This is bullshit, period. Meaningless hype by a rank amateur who
>just earned a mickey-mouse degree and thinks he has enough
>knowledge to grant degrees himself.
Two questions, Steve: first, is it worthwhile to consider Emir truly
"rank"? Second, shouldn't "Mickey Mouse" be capitalized?
Regards,
John
who has been closing his posts with that word for years
Jonathan Whatley
Steve Levicoff <levi...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> Actually, I have never referred to Emir as a protegé, although
> I have stated that, in my opinion, he had the potential to one
> day be more of an expert in distance education.
A search for your posts including the "Emir" and "expert" differs:
- In "Re: Levicoff, Mohammed, Nixon, White, Huber, and Bear" on
July 18, 1998, you call him "lovable," and "our protege," and
ask some guy "kindly don't fuck with our protege."
- In "Re: Andrew Jackson University MBA" on December 24, 1998,
you say that you're "hardly an expert" on European schools,
and their legitimacy, and refer your inquirer on to Emir.
- In "The Gang of Six" on May 19, 1999, you write that "Yes, we
claim to be expert in the field of distance education, and I
will vouch for any other person I have listed here as having
done his or her research - we do not shoot from the hip."
Tell him you don't love him anymore, Steve, and we'll understand.
But screaming out that you never loved him... that's just cruel. :)
Jonathan
Bill Gossett
>Perhaps what Emir does not reailze, however, is that when
>you have a one-man show, and when that man holds every
>conceivable role in both the corporate structure *and* the
>institution itself (vis-a-vis the academic roles), it would
>probably quite easy to pierce the corporate veil,
>especially when one is claiming to use the corporate
>registration in the place of degree-granting authority.
Said veil-piercing could be termed a "shenDANZIGan", the
successful culmination of which would lead to a
"SNELLabration"?
Bill Gossett
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Thomas Nixon
Steve Levicoff wrote:
> Emir A. Mohammed wrote:
>
> > The truth about TRIALS...
> > (http://www.angelfire.com/de/trials/index.html &
> > http://www.angelfire.com/mo/EmirMohammed/Trials.html)
>
> Gee, I can't wait for this one . . .
>
> Moreover, "charter" is not an American term. U.S. corporations
> are registered with a particular state corporation bureau, and
> their primary organizational document is called their Articles of
> Incorporation. "Charter" is a British term and irrelevant, as is
> the term "LLC."
Point of order. LLCs (limited liability company) are now possible in
many states in the U.S. They certainly are in California.
Tom Nixon
Thomas Nixon
Steve Levicoff wrote:
> |
> | Self-designed research courses may begin at any time, upon
> | Director's approval. The length of time spent on a self-
> | designed course may also vary. Both of the taught courses for
> | these degrees have even more rigorous curricula than the
> | Director's identical courses taught at UCLA (Extension). All
> | modules (including self-designed ones) require the production
> | of a 4000-5000 word paper.
> |_____
>
> This would never cut it at *any* legitimate school - a subjective
> standard applied by one person for a course's length and content.
> What makes it more dangerous, however, is that Emir is trading
> upon his alleged role at UCLA Extension. I'll leave it to our
> other "investigators," but I have a feeling that there's
> something quite fishy about Emir's allaged connection with UCLA.
I'm sure he's teaching there. UCLA Extension is huge and hires many
non-Ph.D. people. They offered me a class in the spring, as a matter of
fact.
Tom
Steve Levicoff
>Rumson, on the other hand, was a degree mill started by a
>*professional*. Some might even remember my comments about Steve's
>infamous "Rumson" (great edifice pic, Steve) in which I noted that
>Steve might even have been serious about starting such a place. My
>tongue was, however, firmly implanted in my cheek, such that it would
>have taken a crowbar to displace it. But Rumson did not make any
>specific claims re government authority, degree-granting or otherwise.
>Smoke and mirrors, that's all.
But like Emir's original concept of Oxford Open, Rumson was designed to
be a farce from the get-go. And, unlike Emir, Rumson claimed a totally
bogus accreditation (the Middle States Commission, as opposed to the
Middle States Association). And the most obvious facet of the fraud is
that the six "academic deans" were, in fact, *all* of the Gang of Six.
Only the truly hip realized the nature of the fraud at the time, since
"Rumson University" is the fictitious school in "Auntie Mame."
>Well, Steve, that's what the University of South Africa awards: a
>research Doctorate based solely on a Thesis. However, what we in
>North America tend to call a "Dissertation" is in South Africa called
>a "Thesis." And vice versa. Maybe this tiny part of his concept,
>at least, isn't too ridiculous.
Actually, I think it is ridiculous. Common, but ridiculous. Remember,
being somewhat provincial, I operate from an American standard, and we
simply do not grant "research doctorates" here. (The exception,
incidentally, is that some medical schools will grant a Ph.D. on top of
the M.D. if the student engages in a significant research project. I
think that those are as much as joke as a European or UNISA research
doctorate based solely on a thesis.)
>Two questions, Steve: first, is it worthwhile to consider Emir truly
>"rank"? Second, shouldn't "Mickey Mouse" be capitalized?
Actually, I have never met Emir, so I have no idea how rank he might
be. But then, I use the expression figuratively, not literally.
As to Mickey Mouse, I used to capitalize the expression, but began
hyphenating it and using lower case in deference to the real Mr. Mouse.
Steve Levicoff
>Tell him you don't love him anymore, Steve, and we'll understand.
>But screaming out that you never loved him... that's just cruel. :)
>Jonathan
Actually, love never had anything to do with it. I always saw
potential in him, but he has gone off the wall with TRIALS. That's all
there is to it.
As always, I do not speculate on his motivation (as I do not speculate
on the motivation of any degree mill operator, with few exceptions). I
would prefer to think of him as having, to con an evangelical
expression, "zeal without knowledge." At some point, he may even be
qualified to serve as one of many persons who establish a legitimate
school. But as a solo act immediately after graduating with a totally
distance-based LL.M.? Hardly.
(As an aside, I have always held that graduate-level education should
have a residential component if it is designed to prepare one to be a
leader in his or her field. The fact that Emir did not do a residency
compounds the absurdity of his starting a school at this time.)
J. Ed Komoszewski
> >Well, Steve, that's what the University of South Africa awards: a
> >research Doctorate based solely on a Thesis. However, what we in
> >North America tend to call a "Dissertation" is in South Africa called
> >a "Thesis." And vice versa. Maybe this tiny part of his concept,
> >at least, isn't too ridiculous.
>
> Actually, I think it is ridiculous. Common, but ridiculous. Remember,
> being somewhat provincial, I operate from an American standard, and we
> simply do not grant "research doctorates" here. (The exception,
> incidentally, is that some medical schools will grant a Ph.D. on top of
> the M.D. if the student engages in a significant research project. I
> think that those are as much as joke as a European or UNISA research
> doctorate based solely on a thesis.)
Isn't this a bit relative, Steve? Just because something is different
doesn't make it a joke. If that were the case, then how should I look at a
30 semester hour M.A. program after I've finished a 122 semester hour
master's degree (including a major research component)? Should I call it a
joke because it was less than what I did to earn my own graduate credential?
At least in my field of study, the research doctorate from places like
Oxford, Cambridge, Liverpool, Sheffield, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Nottingham,
Edinburgh, et. al., is *highly* respected. Several prominent New Testament
scholars at the regionally accredited school I attend have terminal degrees
from such
institutions (in fact, 6 of 8 department members hold such degrees). No one
(including SACS or ATS evaluators) has ever questioned the scholarly
credentials of
these men, and several of them are world-class authorities in their areas of
expertise.
You will find this to be the case in several highly respected evangelical
institutions, such as Westminster Theological Seminary (where one prominent
faculty member has a South African research doctorate), Gordon-Conwell
Theological Seminary, Dallas Theological Seminary, and Trinity Evangelical
Divinity School.
Regards,
Ed Komoszewski
P J French
some quite unique types of corporations and trusts for then USA compared to
other States there and in fact we use them similarly to Channel Island/BWI
corporations.
Peter French
Australia
Bill Gossett <bgos...@starmail.com> wrote in message
news:7mtbdl$93t$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> Steve Levicoff wrote:
>
>
> > Moreover, "charter" is not an American term. U.S. corporations
> > are registered with a particular state corporation bureau, and
> > their primary organizational document is called their Articles of
> > Incorporation. "Charter" is a British term and irrelevant, as is
> > the term "LLC."
>
> A small, and probably irrelevant, point: forming a limited liability
> company in my state (Arkansas) is one of many options. The use of "LLC",
> or another designator conveying the same information, is required.
>
> Bill Gossett
>
>
Chip
A punster with a sense of humor worse than my own!!
:)
Chip
Marshall Rice
<purp...@juno.com> writes
>Steve Levicoff <levi...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
>> >Well, Steve, that's what the University of South Africa awards: a
>> >research Doctorate based solely on a Thesis. However, what we in
>> >North America tend to call a "Dissertation" is in South Africa called
>> >a "Thesis." And vice versa. Maybe this tiny part of his concept,
>> >at least, isn't too ridiculous.
>>
>> Actually, I think it is ridiculous. Common, but ridiculous. Remember,
>> being somewhat provincial, I operate from an American standard, and we
>> simply do not grant "research doctorates" here. (The exception,
>> incidentally, is that some medical schools will grant a Ph.D. on top of
>> the M.D. if the student engages in a significant research project. I
>> think that those are as much as joke as a European or UNISA research
>> doctorate based solely on a thesis.)
>
>Isn't this a bit relative, Steve? Just because something is different
>doesn't make it a joke.
I think we are being baited.
--
Marshall Rice
JMcAulay
Marshall Rice wrote in message <5yPnxDAP...@msrice.co.uk>...
>I think we are being baited.
At least, I think we'd all agree, Steve Levicoff is a master of that
technique.
Regards,
John
Larry McQueary
master baiter?
:-)
Larry
JMcAulay <jo...@mcaulay.net> wrote in message
news:37934...@news.qnet.com...
Steve Levicoff
>Marshall Rice wrote:
>
> > I think we are being baited.
>
>At least, I think we'd all agree, Steve Levicoff is a master of that
>technique.
>
>Regards,
>John
Let's see if I understand this, John . . . Are you calling me a
master baiter? :-)
JMcAulay
Larry McQueary wrote in message ...
>John, you clever bugger - are you saying that Steve is a
>master baiter?
>
>:-)
>
>Larry
Why, for goodness' sake, Larry, did I say *that*?
And watch who you're calling a bugger.
Regards,
John *<;o)
Larry McQueary
Larry
"My father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie
owner from Belgium with low-grade narcolepsy and a penchant
for buggery...."
-Dr. Evil
JMcAulay <jo...@mcaulay.net> wrote in message
news:37935...@news.qnet.com...
Lawrie Miller
Yes, since "cunning linguist" would not be appropriate in your case.
wdh...@my-deja.com
levi...@ix.netcom.com(Steve Levicoff) wrote:
> "JMcAulay" <jo...@mcaulay.net> writes:
>
> >Marshall Rice wrote:
> >
> > > I think we are being baited.
> >
> >At least, I think we'd all agree, Steve Levicoff is a master of that
> >technique.
> >
> >Regards,
> >John
>
> Let's see if I understand this, John . . . Are you calling me a
> master baiter? :-)
Perhaps a master de-baiter?
--
Wm. Dennis Huber
http://members.tripod.com/WDHuber/
I reserve the right to publicly disclose private
e-mail received in response to this post.
Andrew Bollen
Steve Levicoff wrote:
> >Well, Steve, that's what the University of South Africa awards: a
> >research Doctorate based solely on a Thesis. However, what we in
> >North America tend to call a "Dissertation" is in South Africa called
> >a "Thesis." And vice versa. Maybe this tiny part of his concept,
> >at least, isn't too ridiculous.
>
> Actually, I think it is ridiculous. Common, but ridiculous. Remember,
> being somewhat provincial, I operate from an American standard, and we
> simply do not grant "research doctorates" here. (The exception,
> incidentally, is that some medical schools will grant a Ph.D. on top of
> the M.D. if the student engages in a significant research project. I
> think that those are as much as joke as a European or UNISA research
> doctorate based solely on a thesis.)
>
> -----------------------------------
<delurk>
Maybe I'm missing the context - do you mean that credible Ph.D.'s always
have some course-work component? If so, you're simply wrong by any
(non-provincial) standard. On the other hand, maybe you mean that a
credible Ph.D. requires exposure to continuous peer-review of some kind
(seminars, conferences etc), and favorable endorsement by recognized
personalities within the discipline, not just one's school? That I can
agree with, and it seems reasonable to me to assume profound crappiness on
the part of any DL Ph.D. which doesn't facilitate & require this kind of
participation.
--
Andrew W. Bollen
Dan Henderson
Establishing residency, going to class, writing monster papers (ream after
ream of academic drivel) which is much more ... ahhh academic than ... say
... mindless drivel). Forgive me, near end of quarter blues. Maybe I should
just reclaim my life and just buy a degree, nah, I'll just print one up.
Dan
Chip <ch...@remove.mindspring.this.com> wrote in message
news:7n5slr$sjp$1...@nntp9.atl.mindspring.net...
> I agree with the sentiment, and I *love* the concept of "profound
> crappiness"