No other comments, huh? Someone without any college degree passes many tests in many college courses over many years. How does this lack of oversight continue in the age of terrorism? Honestly, I don't get the INS--dozens of Middle-easterners stay in the country illegally, when one of my graduate students (an exemplary student)is deported back to Ireland because she left blank a small portion of her student visa application. I don't know what is more upsetting, the INS or the foolish faculty members who passed the fake Arab.

Actually, I think Bubba the test taker is the worst of the bunch. He's the one saying "I don't care WHY you're here--to study or blow up people--I want money so badly that it doesn't matter". What a complete idiot.

Sounds a lot like standard operating procedure for jocks at several big schools...

Why are all students from Middle Eastern countries considered terrorists because of the actions of a few? Were all Russian students considered spies because of some who actually were during the cold war? And we therefore should brand all Chinese students as military and industrial spies, given what China has stolen from us. It has always been human nature to blame one's race, ethnicity, or nationality for negative behavior, although the same behaviors are exhibited by one's own group. The actions of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were "okay", meaning they are not representative of white males of the US, because they are one of "us." But if they were Arab, Asian, Hispanic, black, etc., we have to be leary of "those" people. How about fearing white males since there are many who belong to hate groups? Let's discriminate against them. Oh, but they are us...

This is a result of a visa system that relies on student support personnel to verify the authenticity of academic and financial documents from around the world, and private companies with no US obligations to follow proper procedures in proctoring English tests. Heck, there's not even a mandatory background check for the people at the schools who are entrusted to verify the documents and whether or not the students are actually attending class. Combine that with schools where the populations are so large that the likelihood of anyone actually catching someone checking in under 4 different names is low as well as an academic culture that only requires attendance three times a quarter (first day, midterm, and final), and you have a wide-open door for anyone with enough money.
On the other hand, the only difference between this situation and a student who is just paying for someone else to earn their degree for them is the visa status.

Well said #3! It is sad but that's the way people's perception are shaped. The dominate group gets a pass, and the minorities have to bear the sins of their group members. As for the test cheats, that is standard practice and big business; disgraceful lack of oversight.