A massive college admissions fraud involving multiple high-profile families and coaches has recently been uncovered by law enforcement.

The scandal is centered on a man named William “Rick” Singer, who sold two kinds of services to wealthy parents: bribing coaches and falsifying athletic records and cheating on the ACT and SAT to raise scores. Celebrities involved include William H. Macy, Felicity Huffman, Lori Loughlin, and likely more names that have yet to come to light.

Average Americans reacted to this news with a resounding chorus of, “Well, Obviously?”

The story reeks of white, upper-class entitlement, but it’s hardly surprising. Rich parents pay for their children to get into college in lots of ways, whether it’s donating money in preparation for a child’s application, paying for SAT prep courses, paying admission fees, shelling out for fancy prep schools, or literally paying some guy named Rick half a million dollars to fix an SAT score, what’s the difference? There’s a subtle irony in a college admission scam getting so much media coverage when the system within which the scam took place is so obviously weighted in favor of the kind of applicants (rich and white) the scam was benefitting. Some people were even surprised to learn this was illegal at all:

This story doesn’t indicate a single broken cog, but an entirely broken machine. The American college system is run on favors, whether it’s high profile recommendation letters or straight-up bribes, it’s difficult to get into an esteemed university without the advantages that come with wealth. The truth is, it will simply always be easier for the rich to get into college. The lukewarm reaction by Americans to this scandal shows that people know how unfair the college admissions process is, but buy into it anyway because as it becomes increasingly hard to get even an entry–level job without a college degree, young Americans are forced to buy in. So, isn’t paying for admission just the next step in this booming industry? Good work Aunt Becky, you were ahead of the trend.

Brooke Ivey Johnson is a Brooklyn based writer, playwright, and human woman. To read more of her work visit her blog or follow her twitter @BrookeIJohnson.

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