speaking of Wal-Mart: Elizabeth Paige Laurie's scam

[donsu]

http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=18189


Wal-Mart heiress' cultural coarsening
Elizabeth Paige Laurie, granddaughter of Wal-Mart co-founder, opens big box of trouble


EPL wanted it all, and she must have figured it out early on in her life that she could have it all. Now, she wanted a degree from a well-known private university, but she had more important things to do than perform the routine academic chores necessary to get that degree. Her parents had even bigger plans: By virtue of a $25 million donation to the University of Missouri, they received the naming rights -- and a bushel full of other perks -- to the University's brand new basketball arena, and they intended to name the arena after their daughter. But, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

EPL's dilemma? How to get her degree in communications without expending too much time and effort. She turned to hired help in the person of Elena Martinez, her first-year roommate.

For the next three-plus years, Martinez became EPL's academic proxy; she basically took care of many of EPL's assignments, including email exchanges with tutors on her behalf. For her services, Martinez -- who also joined the Army Reserves for much-needed extra cash -- received $20,000. The payment wasn't enough to keep her enrolled at the university, so Martinez transferred to Riverside Community College.

EPL got her degree in communications. End of story? No!

-snip- (read all of the article to see how the scam was run)


Oh yes, the arena naming rights? The Laurie family, which owns Paige Sports Entertainment -- named after their daughter -- and the St. Louis Blues professional hockey team, had contributed $25 million in 2001 to launch the building of a $75 million basketball arena on campus and intended to name the building for their daughter. A "what were they thinking" would suffice here. However, when the good folks back at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo., found out about 20/20's revelations, the governing Board of Curators made things right by immediately voting, without dissent, to change the arena's name from the Paige Sports Arena to Mizzou Arena.
---------------------------

[Bouncy Ball]

1. Did she get to keep her degree?

She shouldn't. She didn't do the work, period. Academic dishonesty. I hope the University of Missouri still takes academic dishonesty seriously.

[ogsball]

9. I don't think she attended MU

The entire situation is much stranger than what this article lets on. The Laurie's are spoiled brats who live in a relatively small city so that they can throw their money around and control everything.

There must be something in the instruction guide for the super rich about adopting a small to mid size university and then controling everything through financial gifts.


Oh yea, the Laurie's money comes from inheritance not by working for Wal-Mart.

[MadHound]

10. She didn't attend MU

She got her degree at USC. From the rumors I've heard, she was a busy little ski bunny out there on the slopes of LA.

[LisaM]

2. Not to digress, but Wal-Mart owns the St. Louis Blues?

Now I'm GLAD that Detroit has knocked them out of the playoffs so frequently, as well as signing Shanny away from them.

More on point, while the entire story is terrible enough on its face, how can they pay her roommate all this money and yet stand by while she is forced to switch to a community college because of a lack of funding?

[donsu]

3. they are criminals - criminals could care less

nt

[tekriter]

5. Not exactly - Paige Sports Entertainment owns the Blues...

and the Laurie family owns Paige Sports Entertainment.

The Lauries are just one of the Wal-Mart Clan - the owner of the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche (Stan Kroenke) is another branch of the Wal-Mart tree.

[LisaM]

6. The Avalanche too??? LOL, it gets better

Wal-Mart spawn own both the Blues and the 'Lanche, good, now I can hate them as much as I do with a good conscience.

[tekriter]

7. Lisa, Lisa...hate is such an ugly word.

We should only hate those who TRULY deserve it.

The Chicago Blackhawks, for instance.

[zbdent]

4. Well, aren't Repigs the ones saying that "wealth/money can't buy

class"?

PRIME F*KING EXAMPLE THERE!

[MadHound]

8. Yeppers, it really is a hoot

It is quite laughable, yet in a dark cynical sort of way for those of us who live here in the Columbia area. Columbia was a really nice little college town until the Walton spawn moved in, but it has really gone downhill since they arrived. Now the town has one big WalMart sign branded on it's collective ass.

The residents of Columbia and Missouri are subsidizing the Walton spawns' lifestyle in many ways. Building entirely new roads, so that fifty feet of their precious estate isn't lopped off for a four lane road in front of their place, building the Paige arena as a monument to their vanity, building a new exit and road off of I-70 that will lead to directly to the new supercenter on the west end, the list is endless. Oh, and shelling out another $30,000 to change the name from Paige Arena to Mizzou Sports Arena when the scandal came out.

I grieve for my home town, but am glad that I live in the next county over +these days. The city leadership completely caved to the Walton spawns' demands, as did many in the state government. These asses have taken a beautiful vibrant town, and are trying their damnest to squeeze the life out of it.

There is hope though. People are really starting to wake up to the true price of having these spoiled rich assholes in our community, and movements are underway to put them in their place. We still have a vibrant fun downtown, and are now starting to force the Walton spawn to pay the true price for their shannigans. Hopefully we drive these assholes out of town and get our little city back.

[stevedeshazer]

11. I want my sports arena NOW!