To the editor: As a fellow graduate of USC and someone who works in education, I’m struggling to muster any sympathy for Donna Heinel.
Even though she got tangled up in USC’s flawed system that definitely needed fixing, the $160,000 she pocketed from her dealings with counselor Rick Singer really damages her credibility. As famously said in “All the President’s Men,” it’s all about “Follow the money.”
If she had owned up to her mistakes sooner instead of pointing fingers at others, the whole Varsity Blues scandal might have been less damaging for both Heinel and her family.
Christian Teeter, West Hollywood
—
To the editor: So, Donna Heinel reported directly to USC Athletic Director Pat Haden, but we’re supposed to believe Haden was completely unaware of his team green-lighting backdoor admissions to keep big donors happy? At the very least, it’s a clear case of incompetence. And at worst, should Haden have been the one facing jail time? It seems like having a bigger name and a more skilled lawyer played to his advantage.
Bob Kargenian, Yorba Linda
