Former Morris Brown College president Dolores Cross set out to put the college on the map in 1998. She was viewed by many as having a dynamic leadership style and ambitious programs. Enrollment skyrocketed as a result of her work, but along with it spending increased, according to a front page article yesterday in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The college grew by leaps and bounds but the foundation was crumbling. The school was not making enough money to cover the added expenses of hotel and other bills to house the influx.
In part, the article stated:
On Monday, Cross pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement for defrauding the government of financial aid money, admitting to knowingly accepting money for students who were not enrolled to try to stave off the school’s impending financial crisis. Cross also has agreed to pay $11,000 in restitution to the government, the amount the federal Department of Education said it is owed stemming from the fraud charge.
The plea deal brought to a close the six-year saga that began with Cross’s presidency and ended with the college losing its accreditation and two former administrators facing prison time.
Cross, 69, along with former financial aid director Parvesh Singh, were charged in a 34-count federal indictment in 2004 for misappropriating student financial aid. While she and Singh tried to patch financial holes at Morris Brown, neither benefited personally from the fraud, lawyers for both sides said Monday. Each of the charges in the indictment carried a maximum sentence of two to five years.
Cross will likely be sentenced in August, and the government is recommending that she receive 10 to 16 months in prison. Her lawyers have asked that she receive zero to six months and that U.S. District Court Judge Julie Carnes take into account Cross’s medical condition. Her lawyers declined to elaborate on Cross’ health.
Singh, 64, also pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement last week and was to receive a reduced sentence for cooperating in the case against Cross.
Cross declined to be interviewed but released a statement through her attorney, Drew Findling.
“I will always regret what happened,” Cross said. “And I apologize to the students, faculty and staff of Morris Brown College.”…
Yes, the worse happened. The school lost its accreditation. Administrators there are forced to face lawsuits and creditor litigations as a result of the misdealing. At the apex of Cross’s reign the school boasted a 2,700 student enrollment, which has dwindled now to 44 students.
What was the state of Morris Brown before Cross? What did the folks in-house think of her? Did she set out with blind ambition thinking “I got this” and work to cover up her mistakes when she realized that she didn’t? Did she see a struggling Morris Brown that she believed in, and made a decision to do whatever it would take to make a difference? The college could have been already struggling and she could have been playing against time to get it up (which takes money) before time ran out. She could have been trying to make a name for herself and it went awry. I don’t know her character. What about all the play in the media about scandals in which executives did profit? Is there a difference based on profit, lives affected or both?
This is a tough call for me. It’s a loss, but an honorable loss. The school is working hard to rebound. Cross has admitted fault and publicly apologized to the most important of those affected—the students and her faculty and staff. It’s the kind of loss that you work together to rebuild. Check out the full version of Andrea Jones’ story @ ajc.com.
Posted By: Joyce Brayboy
Wednesday, May 3rd 2006 at 10:30AM
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