Campus Files: Scandals, Secrets & Crimes at American Universities

Pick up any history of women in higher education and you'll find sororities in a footnote, maybe a paragraph. But that's not the whole story. The first sororities weren't social clubs - they were academic lifelines for women. So how did that get forgotten? For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 3 June 2026

In 2022, famous young entrepreneur and founder of the student financial aid startup Frank was charged with fraud and conspiracy, facing up to a 100 years in prison. How did this wunderkind turn into an alleged con-artist, and how did America's largest bank get duped? For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 27 May 2026

Poe Hall, an academic building on NC State’s campus, shut its doors abruptly. It later emerged that the building was contaminated with PCBs, a known carcinogen, and had been for decades. Faculty, staff, and former students say they raised alarms after developing cancer, only to be ignored. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2026

For the last decade at least, the question of free speech has been the defining issue of American higher education. One school set out to tackle those problems head on, but appears to have lost its way in the process, struggling to define itself even before opening its doors. Read Evan's piece: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/01/16/civil-war-university-of-austin-bari-weiss-00729688 For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 13 May 2026

They were ambitious students at Cambridge University who went on to climb the ranks of British government and intelligence. But they had a secret. All the while, they were working for the Soviet Union. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 6 May 2026

The story of the New College of Florida becoming a pawn in Ron Desantis' campaing for president, and what happens when a school is reshaped by force and against the will of students and faculty. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2026

In 1950, the City College of New York pulled off one of the greatest Cinderella stories in sports history, winning both the NIT and NCAA tournaments in the same season. The team, made up largely of Black and Jewish players, became a symbol of possibility. Within months, a point shaving scandal shattered that legacy. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2026

In the first weeks of Donald Trumps second term, the Department of Government Efficiency ransacked the federal government. One student at Brown University decided to take the same approach and bring DOGE to campus. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 15 April 2026

What was supposed to be a light workout during football orientation ended in tragedy. Calvin Dickey, a freshman with sickle cell trait, collapsed and died days later. His parents say Bucknell failed to follow basic safety protocols and then withheld what really happened. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2026

The fight at Utah Valley University over whether or not to install a memorial to Charlie Kirk after his assassination on campus Read Matthew's work: https://www.uvureview.com/author/matthewfranke/ For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2026

Sorority recruitment has grown increasingly competitive, with more applicants and the same limited number of spots. A new industry has emerged to meet the pressure: sorority rush consultants. For thousands of dollars, they promise to coach students through every step of the process. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 25 March 2026

The story of Mark Welsh III, the beloved president of Texas A&M who was dramatically forced out as part of a conservative backlash to academic freedom in higher ed. Read Kate and Nico's Reporting: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/10/texas-a-m-mark-welsh-regents-abbott-fired/ Read Jessica Priest's Reporting on Melissa McCoul's firing: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/19/texas-a-m-welsh-firing-professor-gender-mccoul/ For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 18 March 2026

For decades, freshman orientation came with an unusual requirement: students had to pose for a photograph - completely naked. It wasn’t a fringe practice. Colleges across the country, including several Ivy League schools, did it. Why? And what happened to all those photos? For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 11 March 2026

Last season, we brought you 35 stories from American colleges. Stories of drug rings, fraternity hazing, stolen body parts, campus cults and more. And now, Campus Files is coming back for another season, at a time when universities are all over the news. Starting March 11th, we’ll have a new episode every week. Listen to and follow Campus Files wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcribed - Published: 10 March 2026

In our last episode of the season (season 2 is in the works), we look at MIT's Media Lab, which long dazzled the public with its bold ideas and groundbreaking projects. But behind that reputation was a secret: much of the lab’s funding traced back to Jeffrey Epstein. Read Noam Cohen’s reporting: https://www.wired.com/story/for-jeffrey-epstein-mit-was-just-a-safety-school/ For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 1 October 2025

Cornell's oldest and most historic a capella group was suddenly shut down in 2017 when allegations of severe hazing came to light. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 24 September 2025

Most Chinese nationals at Stanford never intended to be intelligence assets. But under Chinese law, if the government demands information, they must comply. Two student journalists investigate the sprawling espionage campaign taking place on their own campus. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 17 September 2025

Just a few years ago, colleges across the country were pouring resources into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Today, many of those same offices are being dismantled. In some states, the pressure runs so deep that professors are stripping DEI from syllabi and renaming courses—steps they feel are necessary to avoid scrutiny, and to safeguard their jobs. For a transcript of this episode: ⁠https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts⁠ Read Erin’s reporting: https://www.theassemblync.com/education/higher-education/series-nc-dei-universities-colleges-diversity-equity-inclusion/ Korie Dean contributed reporting for this episode. You can read more of her work here: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article301199094.html

Transcribed - Published: 10 September 2025

Since World War II, America has led the world in science and medicine by making an unusual choice: instead of keeping research in government labs, it invested directly in universities. That partnership fueled decades of discovery and breakthroughs. But today, that pipeline is under serious threat, and nowhere is the impact clearer than at Harvard. This week, Dr. Joan Brugge, director of Harvard’s Ludwig Cancer Center, joins us to explore what’s at stake for scientific progress and for America’s place on the global stage.

Transcribed - Published: 3 September 2025

From the Edward R. Murrow award-winning podcast Gone South: Mobile, Alabama’s biggest cold case reopens when Jim Barber, a police officer and adjunct professor, re-examines the 1980 murder of college freshman Katherine Foster.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 27 August 2025

Lately you’ve probably been hearing about the Department of Education a lot as the Trump administration moves to dismantle it. For many, this move feels shocking and unprecedented. In reality, it's just the latest chapter in a long-running battle over who controls education in America. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 20 August 2025

A student reporter uncovers troubling rumors about misconduct at University of Washington's prestigious Robinson Center, a school for students as young as 14. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 13 August 2025

As a freshman at Long Beach State, Chele joined a church that was popular with other students. What she didn't know: the group had been accused of cult-like behavior by students nationwide. Years later, she's sharing her story — and warning others about an organization that's still recruiting on college campuses today. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 6 August 2025

In 1965 a group of 5 people broke into a secret Naval base to kidnap a key figure as part of a covert operation. That key figure? A goat named Bill. The kidnappers? West Point cadets. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 30 July 2025

In 2019, the head doctor for Penn State’s football team was fired after resisting pressure from the head coach to clear injured players. His story exposes a deeper crisis in college sports: when wins and revenue are at stake, who’s protecting the players? For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 23 July 2025

The operation we now know as Operation Varsity Blues didn’t begin the way you might expect. It was uncovered by chance. Prosecutor Eric Rosen takes us behind the scenes of how investigators discovered—and ultimately prosecuted—the largest college admissions scandal in American history. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts For more on Eric’s work, check out: https://www.dynamisllp.com/talent/eric-rosen-white-collar-defense

Transcribed - Published: 16 July 2025

In 2016, Loyola University welcomed a new president, sparking excitement on campus — the first woman and the first layperson ever to lead the school. But the honeymoon didn’t last. Soon, the student paper found itself facing an administration determined to protect the university’s image at all costs — even if it meant censoring the press. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 9 July 2025

Pranks are a legendy part of life on campus in America. There's one campus in particular that has a unique tradition of it's own. This is the story of how Bessie, a 300 pound fiberglass cow, found her way to the top of the Great Dome at MIT. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 2 July 2025

Mills College, the first all-women’s college west of the Rocky Mountains, had a rich history of social justice and women's leadership. That is, until the school shocked everyone by announcing it was going bankrupt and would soon be absorbed by a new owner, leaving its storied legacy hanging in the balance. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2025

For years, Dartmouth’s student newspaper quietly struggled to stay afloat. Then in 2021, a student uncovered a case of massive financial fraud that would shake the paper to its core. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 18 June 2025

Few people know that most of our modern medical knowledge is based on centuries old research using human remains, often stolen. While those practices are thankfully gone today, the market for human remains is as strong as ever. In 2023, the public got a glimpse into that world when the Harvard Morgue was implicated in the illegal trade of human remains. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 11 June 2025

It’s been called the most powerful—and most secretive—fraternity in America. For decades, a shadowy group known as The Machine has controlled student government at the University of Alabama through intimidation and backroom deals. And it matters—because its influence stretches far beyond campus and into national politics. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 4 June 2025

The future of for-profit schools, and the millions of students who have attended them hangs in the balance as a key legal protection is under threat from the courts and the Trump administration. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2025

Ashley Pizzuti fell in love with photography from an early age, and found what felt like the perfect opportunity to start the career of her dreams. She would soon learn that her school was part of an industry designed to prey upon students like her, and that legislators were key to finding relief. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2025

For the last 30 years, a group of schools have targeted America's most vulnerable students, saddling them with mountains of debt and a poor education, all for the sake of profit. Mike DiGiacomo fell victim to two of these schools. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 14 May 2025

Half of all college students and 73% of social fraternity members experience hazing. As it turns out, hazing has a long and deadly history in the United States and we know about this history in large part because of the hard work of one man, Hank Nuwer. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 7 May 2025

In 2016, a woman overdosed on meth in a Pasadena hotel room. The man who provided the drugs: Dr. Carmen Puliafito, the dean of USC’s Keck School of Medicine. As one reporter at the Los Angeles Times fought to expose the truth, he encountered a power structure that made publishing the story all but impossible.Read Paul's book about this story: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250824103/badcity/ For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2025

Cornell's Brian Wansink was at the top of his field, renowned for translating behavioral science into practical tips for improving eating habits. He famously popularized the notion that we tend to eat more when served in large bowls. But, when skeptical researchers and journalists exposed Wansink for manipulating data, his fall from grace led to the dismantling of Cornell's entire food psychology department, and raised questions about the state of scientific research as a whole. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2025

In 2010, USC launched a fully remote version of its prestigious social work program. According to USC’s website, it offered the same professors, curriculum, and career services as the on-campus version. However, those who enrolled—at a cost of over $100,000—soon discovered that the program was far from what it claimed to be. In fact, it wasn’t even being run by USC. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 16 April 2025

Imagine if you could ask someone anything you wanted about their finances. On What We Spend, people from across the country and across the financial spectrum are opening their wallets—and their lives—to tell you everything: what they make, what they want, and—for one week—what they spend. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 14 April 2025

Holden Thorp was the chancellor of UNC when the university faced the worst atheltic scandal in its history. This week, he opens up about his experience—revealing what he knew, what he kept hidden from the public, and what he would do differently if given the chance. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2025

In 2019, after nearly two decades at Duke University, one of its most popular—and controversial—professors was abruptly ousted. For the first time, Evan Charney reveals the untold story behind his departure. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 2 April 2025

In 2022, Columbia University math professor Michael Thaddeus published a 21-page analysis accusing his own university of submitting flawed data to U.S. News & World Report. His findings would cause the entire academic world to question the legitimacy of college rankings. For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2025

In 2016, police uncovered a multi-million dollar drug ring operated by fraternity brothers at the College of Charleston. The police report reads like a Breaking Bad episode, complete with firearms, grenade launchers, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in hidden cash.Read Max's book about this story: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/among-the-bros-max-marshall?variant=41509299290146For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 19 March 2025

In February 2011, George Desdunes was kidnapped by freshman pledges as part of a hazing ritual. He was blindfolded, tied up, and made to consume a lethal amount of alcohol. When George's mother stepped in to get answers, she was met with silence.For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 12 March 2025

In 2023, Joe Gow, the long-serving chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, began posting pornographic videos featuring him and his wife, revealing a double life the couple had long kept hidden. This revelation ultimately cost him his job. In this episode we visit Joe and his wife, Carmen Wilson, at their home to hear their side of the story.This episode contains references to pornography and sex and may not be suitable for younger listeners.For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 5 March 2025

In 2023, Joe Gow, the long-serving chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, began posting pornographic videos featuring him and his wife online, revealing a double life the couple had long kept hidden. This revelation ultimately cost him his job. Through interviews with a journalist who covered the story, a former coworker, and archival audio, this episode explores the boundaries of free speech within higher education today.This episode contains references to pornography and sex and may not be suitable for younger listeners.For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 26 February 2025

In 2002, Harvard undergraduate student Amit Paley stumbled upon a strange entry in Harvard’s archival database: “Secret Court Files, 1920.”This discovery unearthed a dark and little-known chapter in Harvard’s history—a secret disciplinary tribunal convened in 1920 to investigate and punish students for being “guilty” of homosexuality.Read Amit's original reporting: https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2002/11/21/the-secret-court-of-1920-at/For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 19 February 2025

In 2013, Alpha Gamma Delta senior Melanie Gotz made national headlines when she revealed that sorority hopefuls were being cut from rush based on race. Her allegations shed light on the entrenched segregation within the University of Alabama’s Greek system — a system that, in over 100 years, had extended a bid to just one Black woman.Read Abbey and Matt’s reporting: https://thecrimsonwhite.com/16498/news/the-final-barrier-50-years-later-segregation-still-exists/For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 12 February 2025

For years, UNC protected its athletic dominance wth fake classes to keep athletes eligible. In 2011, the secret exploded into public view, threatening to shatter the university’s athletic standing.Read Andy’s book: https://press.umich.edu/Books/D/Discredited2Read Dan Kane’s reporting:https://www.newsobserver.com/profile/218713930/dan-kaneFor a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Transcribed - Published: 5 February 2025